Brendan Rodgers has offered a telling – and somewhat tongue-in-cheek – reaction to Jeffrey Schlupp expressing his openness to a permanent stay at Celtic.
The manager has already admitted that Greg Taylor looks set to leave Celtic when his contract expires in the summer, saying he can read the situation well.
It’s looked on the cards for a while now, with no talk of any agreement close between the player and the club.
Following the 3-0 win over Hearts, where Schlupp played the full 90 minutes, the Celtic manager was asked about the possibility of tying down the Crystal Palace loanee.
“I bet he would!” Rodgers laughed. “He’s 32, coming to Celtic, and playing here.”
While the quip drew some laughs, the Hoops boss made clear that the club would assess the situation more seriously in the coming weeks.
“That’s something between now and the end of the season we’ll look at,” he continued. “I don’t want to commit too early! Jeff’s a great boy, I knew what I was getting, he’s a good type. More than a great guy, he can perform and there’s more to come from him. But more than a good guy, he can perform and play. There’s more to come.”
Rodgers’ praise underlines just how valued Schlupp has become since arriving on loan in January. His experience and positional versatility have been vital in recent weeks, particularly with Greg Taylor’s future up in the air and Kieran Tierney set to return to Celtic this summer.
It’s clear Rodgers rates Schlupp highly and will be keeping a close eye on how the rest of the season unfolds before making a decision on his future. For now, though, the player is doing exactly what’s needed to make a strong case for a permanent stay.
