Hands off Moussa Dembele! Brendan Rodgers issues warning to Celtic star’s suitors

BRENDAN RODGERS has marked the opening of the transfer window by reiterating his ‘Hands Off Moussa Dembele’ message to English predators.

Celtic paid Fulham just a £500,000 development fee for the French Under-21 international when recruiting him at the end of his Craven Cottage contract.

Now, though, the Hoops could recoup 40 times that amount if not more for the striker who netted his fifth goal of the season against Rangers this season in the 2-1 win at Ibrox.

Manchester United and Liverpool reported to be preparing £20-million bids to be lodged in the next few days, with Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig also credited with an interest.

His manager, though, insists he is going nowhere.

“Moussa won’t go in January. There’s no question about that,” said Rodgers.

“He’s obviously had a very good season, and I can’t stop people writing about him or his valuation.

“But, at the moment, he’s very happy here and enjoying working and developing. That’s the reason he came here.

“We don’t need to sell. We need our best players here for the remainder of the season to finish the season the best we can.”

The window can be a fraught time for managers who are often forced to wait nervously to see if anyone tries to scoop up their stars at the last minute, while simultaneously trying to mollify want-away players.

It is a problem the Celtic manager says he doesn’t have to worry about.

“I haven’t had one player come to us, not one single player, to ask about a loan for game time,” he said.

“I acknowledge it’s hard when you are not playing.

“I always try to be open with the players and try to give them an idea where they are in terms of the planning.

“A lot of them have got game time
over December but, of course, there will come a time when as much as they love it here if they are not playing then they will want to
go.

“In the main for players it is fairly simple. It is about game time and money.

“How we work, I try to ensure everyone feels important here.

“It is easier if you are playing. It is the players outside of that for who it is more difficult.

“I am talking about the likes of Nadir Ciftci, who hasn’t played this season.

“He had an opportunity to go in the summer but I asked him to stay because you never know what might happen.

“So he knew where he was and he has been a great professional.

“He is trim, look at him he is lean, and he is not playing.

“That’s great, because if players are going to leave here they will be in the best possible condition they can be.”

One player 100% staying put is Scott Sinclair, who has had his career rejuvenated since moving north from Aston Villa, and was praised by his manager yesterday for his “incredible” display at Ibrox.

“It’s been great here working under Brendan Rodgers,” said Celtic’s match-winner, who
had previously been under his charge at Swansea.

“I hit the ground running after signing, and now I just want to keep doing what I’ve been doing on a personal level and contributing to the team.

“Over the past couple of years, I’ve had some tough times, in and out of teams but, when a manager believes in you, you can see the confidence in my game.

“I couldn’t ask for more.”