Tom is Celts’ Messi... but he could get an offer he can’t refuse after starring at World Cup
KRIS COMMONS reckons Tom Rogic is acting as Celtic’s version of Lionel Messi or Philippe Coutinho.
But the former Parkhead playmaker fears sharing a World Cup finals stage in the summer with players of that ilk could lead to the Australian quitting the Scottish champions.
Commons appreciates exactly what Rogic does for boss Brendan Rodgers.
He did the same thing for Neil Lennon’s team that made the last 16 of the Champions League.
Finding space, operating in holes, making and scoring goals, being the vision within and the chief creator for the Hoops.
Rogic is currently enjoying the best spell of his Celtic career but with just a year of his contract to run the time may have come for the Antipodean to try pastures new.
The 25-year-old will go to Russia 2018 knowing he could clinch a big move away and with Rodgers admitting he can accept his Aussie star fancies a lifestyle change, he may be just four games from the end of his Hoops experience.
Commons isn’t sure what will happen in terms of the future but he does know that right now Rogic is on fire.
He said: “I texted him on Sunday after the Rangers game and told him he was poetry in motion.
“I don’t think Tom wants to leave but his contract is running down and he’s about to go to a World Cup and you never know what can happen after that.
“Footballers have a short career and you have a small window where you have the chance to do something great. Sometimes you take a chance and it falls through and sometimes you don’t then wonder ‘What if?’
“Tom has the opportunity this summer to showcase his ability in front of the world. And if he turns in the kind of world-class displays like he did for 60 minutes against Rangers at the weekend then clubs will be after him.
“He’s a goalscorer and his ability to receive the ball has improved tenfold since I first saw him.
“Ultimately the No.10 is your talisman, your Messi or Coutinho.
“Tom has awareness, quick feet and when you can see a pass, score goals and realise where the space is then people start taking notice, especially when you’re over 6ft tall.
“Brendan Rodgers will have a real headache because they either have to give him what he wants to keep him here or Brendan will have another plan and say they’ll spend £3million or £4million on a player and he’ll be their talisman.”
The manager insists he is relaxed about the situation.
Rodgers understands the dilemma that faces Rogic and, although he wants him to stay, the boss will hold no grudges if he fancies a move and the club can get the right price.
Commons said: “If Brendan’s relaxed about his contract situation he’s either got his eye on someone else or he knows he’s got an offer that Tom can’t refuse.
“From a playing point of view, if I’m playing well and scoring important goals and then going to a World Cup knowing other people will be watching me, you only have to play well in a couple of games to get a move.
“Someone could bid £7m or £8m for him, there’s talk of John McGinn going for £3m. He has 12 months left on his contract.
“The beauty of Celtic is they are financially secure and whatever money they get in they have eyes on the next target.
“The club is so healthy just now that they will be identifying different options. They will be looking at someone possibly coming in for Moussa Dembele and Kieran Tierney.
“Scott Brown is also not going to last forever so you have to be looking at his replacement for down the line as well.
“Celtic have a crop of younger Scottish guys who are tremendous but you wouldn’t mind someone else in there just to mix it up a bit, someone with European experience.
“I’m sure Celtic will have their plans in place, no matter if Rogic has a great World Cup and ends up going.
“It’s Tom’s choice but he’d like reassurances he is that talisman, that No.10. And he’s probably likely to play a little bit more football.
“I used to be so frustrated when Neil took me off because I wanted to see out the 90 minutes. You train seven days a week to last 90 minutes.
“Brendan has a luxury of players that are itching to play that are on the bench and players that are playing out of their skin in the starting 11. He has a great balance that whoever comes in is at the top of their game.”
Right now Rogic is at the heart of it. For as long as he stays Commons is just going to enjoy his skills and said: “It’s a joy to watch from an attacking sense. “Rogic has very good close control. It’s the sort of thing you can lose if you are injured for a long period of time. “But Tom is in the form of his life at the moment. He is not even having to think about things. “It is all just coming naturally to him.”