CELTIC BOSS EAGER TO GET McGINN DEAL OVER THE LINE
BRENDAN RODGERS hopes that Celtic’s pursuit of John McGinn does not drag on throughout the summer.
Hibernian rejected a second bid for the 23-year-old midfielder last week, believed to be in the region of £2million.
The Easter Road club are intent on holding out for nearer £3m with Parkhead fringe man Scott Allan a potential makeweight in a deal.
Quizzed on the next stage of the push to secure the Scotland man after watching his side beat Standard Liege in a Parkhead friendly, Rodgers said: ‘Between Neil (Lennon) and I, it’s out of our hands. It’s with the clubs. Hopefully, for everyone’s sake, it can be resolved, but it’s above me.’
Rodgers admits he needs to talk to both Allan and Ryan Christie to determine their futures.
The Celtic boss hints he will struggle to guarantee them the football they should be craving at this stage of their careers. Allan has never featured for a competitive Rodgers first team, the 26-year-old spending a fruitless loan at Rotherham before last season’s spells with Dundee then Hibs.
Christie, 23, played a pivotal role in helping Aberdeen achieve back-toback second place league finishes and earned Scotland recognition during his 18 months on loan at Pittodrie.
‘Both have done very well in pre-season,’ said Rodgers. ‘They are now players that have been playing regularly and that’ll be the only determining factor.
‘Are both boys able to come in and be in a Celtic squad? For sure, absolutely. Can I give them the game time they want at this stage of their career? That’s the only question mark, really, and that’s a conversation that we will have.
‘Then it’ll be about the player and what they feel. I’ve always liked Scott Allan. I’ve always seen him as a talent but he knew that after his experience at Rotherham, he needed to be playing.
‘He did that and did it very well at Hibs. So he’s a player I like. He’s got speed. He’s got qualities. I think he’s got more to show.’
Allan and Christie played the second half of yesterday’s 4-1 win over the Belgian side in what could be a farewell for the former if Celtic and Hibs reconvene to strike a deal this week.
When asked about Allan becoming part of an incoming transfer arrangement, Rodgers said: ‘Yeah, that might still be the way. Scott and Ryan are big talents. But it is about: “Am I going to get enough game time?”. That’s the ultimate decision that will have to be made.’