Ange has no interest in bids for captain marvel Callum

CELTIC manager Ange Postecoglou last night made it clear there is no way he would ever entertain bids for his captain fantastic Callum McGregor.

McGregor was outstanding in Scotland’s Euro 2024 win over Spain in midweek, with former SFA technical director Malky Mackay — whose Ross County side play host to the Parkhead side today — stating his belief there must have been offers from England in the past for the 29-year-old that no one knew anything about.

Postecoglou thanks his lucky stars that McGregor remains loyal to the club he grew up within and is clear when referring to Mackay’s remarks over transfer bids that he sees him remaining a key part of the champions for years to come.

‘It’s something I wouldn’t entertain,’ said the Australian. ‘When the club talks to me about any bids, I usually say my phone’s not working.

‘But that wouldn’t surprise me with Callum. He’s shown he can play at the very highest level, but I still think his best football is ahead of him. Thankfully for us, he’s really committed to this club.’

Postecoglou has also responded to reports of Southampton preparing a £10million offer for winger Liel Abada by expressing his view that the winger is happy to be at Celtic Park.

Avi Luzon, president of Abada’s former club Maccabi Petah Tikva, claimed the 21-year-old has turned down a new deal in Glasgow and believes the player is ‘90 per cent’ certain to leave for England in summer.

Croatian right-back Josip Juranovic was sold to German side Union Berlin after failing to sign a new contract, but Postecoglou has played down suggestions Abada’s career at Celtic will follow the same route.

‘Liel’s very happy here,’ he said. ‘He just wants to be the best he can be. He’s working hard every day to do that. He’s been fantastic since he joined us.

‘Sometimes, some people like to speak for others but I prefer to speak to the person themself and get first-hand information.

‘The players have their futures in their own hands. Some are at different stages of their life and have different ambitions. It’s about understanding their needs, what they want to do. That’s fine, we move on and they move on to better things.’

Postecoglou, meanwhile, has revealed that he tried to make Brighton sensation Kaoru Mitoma one of his first signings at Celtic.

Mitoma has been a real breakout star in the English Premier League this term and is already being linked with a huge summer move to Manchester United.

Postecoglou admitted that he attempted to sign the left-sided 25-year-old shortly after taking the reins at Parkhead in 2021 — only to see Brighton beat him to the punch in a £2.7million deal and farm the former Kawasaki Frontale man out to their Belgian partner club Union Saint-Gilloise for a season.

‘I tried to get him but it was already almost done for him to move to Brighton,’ said Postecoglou.