BRENDAN RODGERS has insisted Jozo Simunovic is NOT for sale, despite Celtic welcoming new £800,000 centre-half Rivaldo Coetzee in the next 48 hours.
The 20-year-old South African international will arrive from Ajax Cape Town, but the Hoops boss is adamant the champions are in no rush to sell any of their stars.
Burnley and Torino are keeping tabs on Simunovic and Rodgers said: “We don’t have a great need to sell anyone. That is the message.
“There is nobody really we have to sell.
“I understand that what you will have now is a real focus on a lot of our players because of the level they are playing at and their quality.
“Managers and coaches looking from the outside in will think: ‘Wow, these players are playing for a big club, dealing with pressure and dealing well with it’.
“And if they see they can do that they will know for sure that they would be able to play for their clubs.
“But we have no need to sell.”
Rodgers admitted the cash available elsewhere could make it tough to keep his top men in the long term – but he insisted there are no bargain buys at Parkhead.
Copenhagen are keen on Erik Sviatchenko, but the manager said: “All the players are in a good place.
“I’ve always said there will be that moral issue in terms of finance and money that they can be offered elsewhere.
“But if any player ever leaves then the buying club would have to buy. There are no cheap players out of Celtic.
“They are playing at a top club at a good level, but I’ve had nothing in terms of players wanting to leave.
“When that time comes and we have to look at it we will do, but at this moment in time we’ve not had it. We are trying to build something.
“I also understand the nature of it, the financial pull there will be for players.
“And, okay, we qualified last year and hope to make the final step this year and that allows myself and the board to continue progressing the club forward because that’s the idea – constant improvement.
“But there is always going to be riches from elsewhere.
“With all due respect, even Neymar has left Barcelona for £198million.
“So, that can happen, but what I’ve always trued to do and what I’m building and creating is a stronger team.”
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