BRENDAN RODGERS has admitted he wants to keep Stefan Johansen but would understand if Celtic cashed in on him this summer.
The Irishman has been impressed with the attitude of the Norwegian, wanted by Galatasaray who have the money for a transfer fee, thought to be £2m, and also his wages. The midfielder ended the 2-1 win over Olimpija Ljubljana wearing the captain’s armband.
Rodgers, however, knows that anyone in the final year of their contract, as Johansen is, has to be either offered a new deal or sold - because the alternative is them leaving for nothing 12 months from now.
Asked about Johansen, Rodgers said: “He was keen to play. Absolutely so. You could see that with his performance. This is a really volatile period for players because there is uncertainty and it’s only when the stability comes and the window shuts down that you get certainty.
“I always look at players and gauge whether they are happy and want to play for the club or not. I have only known Stefan this last week and a half and he has been excellent. He has a smile on his face, enjoying being with the team, is working hard in training and I can see his qualities.
“We shall see what happens. It is speculation but he is a player I’d like to keep for sure. If it all evolves how I want it to.
"The club has to protect itself also. If a player clearly doesn't want to be at a club and had a year to go, the market will tell you you have to sell that player. There are very few players who will be allowed to run their contract through to a free. That doesn't make any sense.
"But at the moment, there is nothing new to say. He's working well and he played well.”
The Parkhead side will face Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar next Tuesday in their first Champions League match, which means there will be little downtime for the Celtic players who arrive back in Glasgow in the early hours of Sunday evening after their two-week stay in Maribor.
“I was surprised that Lincoln are through if I'm honest,” said Rodgers. “From our reports, the Estonians (Flora Tallin) were the better side in the first leg. Our only issue is that it gives us a day less. If we'd been playing in Estonia, we'd have been on Wednesday night.
"Now the game is Tuesday and that's a quick turnaround. But we will deal with it and look forward to it. I haven't been told anything about the venue. I believe it will be in Gibraltar."
As for any signings coming in before the Friday deadline, which would allow them to play in the tie, Rodgers said: “We have a couple of items ongoing and if we can them done, then great. But we will see.”
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