Torino look to wrap up Jozo deal
‘The new manager has shaken the place up a bit,’ admits reborn Rogic. ‘The players have reacted to that and so have the supporters’
TORINO hope to finalise a deal to land Celtic defender Jozo Simunovic for £4.5million next week. The 22-year-old Croatian arrived in Glasgow in a £3m deal just 12 months ago but made only 17 appearances before succumbing to a knee injury that required surgery in March. Now back in light training at Lennoxtown, the former under-21 cap told the Croatian media yesterday his focus remains on playing for Celtic. However, after Sportsmail exclusively revealed the story yesterday, it’s understood Torino have notified Celtic of their interest in the exDinamo Zagreb star in the event of £20m-rated Nikola Maksimovic moving to Napoli. The catalyst for that deal will arrive if Chelsea capture Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly in a £50m deal this weekend. Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers, meanwhile, is targeting Nottingham Forest’s Dutch goalkeeper Dorus de Vries as competition for Craig Gordon, while Gary MackaySteven is set to return to first club Ross County on loan.
The manager’s three signings only make the team better
IT didn’t need a 5-0 win over Motherwell to illustrate how Celtic have changed under Brendan Rodgers.
Kolo Toure and Scott Sinclair wouldn’t have moved to Glasgow for Ronny Deila. Celtic’s profile and credibility is increased by a former Liverpool manager at the helm.
Tellingly, however, Rodgers is also having an impact on the existing squad. The movement, energy and tempo of the Betfred Cup win over Motherwell at Parkhead on Wednesday night was what Deila aspired to and spoke of often.
But the feeling that Celtic were moving in the wrong direction under the Norwegian was impossible to shift.
Players like Tom Rogic and James Forrest will have had their own reasons for delaying the signing of new contracts until this week. But the impact of the new manager can’t be over-stated.
Under Rodgers, Celtic have the feel of a club moving forward again. Rogic seemed destined to slip quietly out the glass doors and leave them to it.
The news that the Australian international had signed a new deal came as a surprise this week.
Insisting he was laid back about the contract talks, however, the midfielder said: ‘It was never a concern as I was always happy here.
‘I have been here for a while and I hope to be here for some time yet. Leaving was never something that crossed my mind.’
He was linked heavily with Leeds United at one point, but insisted: ‘I can’t control what is written in the papers.
‘That is outwith my control and it was never my focus reading stuff like that. There is not much you can do about that other than focus on training and playing.
‘I feel as though I have done a good job of that.’
Rogic borrows a phrase from legendary Celtic captain Paul McStay to explain his decision to stay.
‘There is a buzz about the place now and it is exciting.
‘We have exciting games coming up and we have made three quality signings so far and everybody has contributed.
‘Whether we add more, then great — but the squad is shaping up well. The boss has shaken the place up a bit and the players have reacted to that — and so have the fans.
‘Everyone wants to impress the manager, as with any new change at that kind of level.
‘The manager having ties to the club has also seen the fans respond well to that.
‘I think you can see that in the way and the style of football that we are playing, and it is still early days. Hopefully, things can only get better.’
It was hard, at times, to know if the apathy of supporters contributed to poor displays under Deila. Or if the reverse was the case.
Either way, the club seemed to be regressing under him. Celtic’s right to call themselves a Champions League club was in question — it still is — and players began to assess their options. Rogic and Forrest were just two who seemed to be eyeing up the exit. Asked now, Rogic insists he had a good relationship with Deila. That he might have stayed anyway. Perhaps. But it was Rodgers he signed for. ‘I am very settled here and I am happy, both on and off the pitch,’ he said. ‘You get to play club football here week in, week out and it is pretty special. ‘I don’t take that for granted — and I don’t think the manager would’ve changed my decision ‘I had a great relationship with the previous manager. ‘But the new boss has made some great signings and they have definitely added to our squad. ‘They are quality signings and that can only make us better.’ Rodgers believes his team can still improve. That they can get better. The dismantling of Motherwell on Wednesday makes that a nervy prospect for Premiership rivals. That Scott Sinclair can emerge from a troubled spell in England to look like a superstar here raises questions of the Scottish game. Yet, with Leigh Griffiths, Moussa Dembele and James Forrest available, the Parkhead side have movement and options up front.
‘Scott Sinclair was great on Sunday against Hearts and against Motherwell,’ said Rogic.
‘It is important that players come in and do well as it doesn’t always happen that simply.
‘Moussa is now getting his goals, which is great for him and for the team.
‘Kolo Toure is going to be a massive signing for us. His experience in the dressing room and in training every day is invaluable.
‘Kolo is someone who everyone can definitely learn from. The signings have been great so far.’
The litmus test for Rodgers comes in the Champions League. Israeli champions Hapoel Be’er Sheva travel to Glasgow for next week’s play-off first leg without talisman and leader Elyaniv Barda.
With a partial groin tear, the loss of the top goalscorer for both games is a blow to Be’er Sheva. Ironically, his replacement is likely to be a player Rodgers knows well from his Chelsea days, Ben Sahar.
Asked if Celtic are better placed to qualify under Rodgers than in the last two seasons, Rogic preferred to be cautious.
‘Possibly,’ he said. ‘When we play like that and keep a clean sheet at home in front of our support, then those are the nights you want to play in and the reason why you are a footballer. We are all enjoying it.’