Brendan Rodgers insists transfer speculation won’t affect Matt O’Riley’s performances for Celtic.
The Glasgow club have rejected several bids for the playmaker after a standout campaign last term.
“I’m very confident it won’t affect him,” Rodgers said. “It’s not easy but he is an ultimate professional, he knows he’s in a good place.
“I’ve said it before, Celtic is a place you can leave but you don’t have to. He has seen what the last three years, and particularly last season, has given him.
“He’s got another 12 years left in his career so he’s investing his time in his development. It’s clear he will attract attention.
“You pay for the player and if you want the player, I’ve known guys who have gone for £30m in this window. The offers we’ve got in for Matt are nowhere near that.
“We don’t have to sell. For us he’s a very valuable player.”
The Celtic manager also admitted he was happy to see his style of football obviously implemented in pre-season.
“From the tactical aspect, we’ve worked on some things over the the pre-season, especially in America, against some really good opponents,” Rodgers said.
“And it was interesting because one young player of mine who played for Chelsea, a former player, he said after the game that ‘it’s a Brendan team we’re playing’.
“So that was a good sign for me on a personal level because he has played for me before and knows what I expect and demand and he can see it in a different team, but playing the same way.”
Brendan Rodgers,Matt O'Riley,transfer speculation,Celtic,Chelsea
