Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers has shared an update concerning the futures of defensive pair Liam Scales and Stephen Welsh.
Both players have been subjects of transfer speculation recently, with Scales linked to Aberdeen, where he spent the previous season on loan, and Welsh rumored to be headed to Serie A in Italy, a league that has proven fruitful for many young Scottish talents.
Speaking about the speculations, Rodgers said to Sky Sports, “I think the beauty of coming in and assessing everyone is giving them that prolonged period. You can sometimes make a decision too early on a player.”
However, he also noted the balance that needs to be struck, as player desires can conflict with club strategies. “But it works both ways; sometimes you may want a player to be here and be in your squad, but naturally, they may want to go and play and start somewhere every week. So it works both ways.”
Both Scales and Welsh have shown impressive form during the pre-season, leaving Rodgers pleased with their performances. “Both those guys that you mentioned [Welsh and Scales] have been excellent over the course of pre-season and we’ll see how that develops over the coming weeks.”
Rodgers’ comments suggest that the future of both players at Celtic Park remains uncertain. The manager’s approach seems to prioritise giving each player adequate time to prove their worth before making any final decisions. Simultaneously, he acknowledges that players’ desires to seek regular game time might also influence their future career trajectories.
As the transfer window continues, all eyes will be on Celtic Park to see how the situation surrounding Scales and Welsh unfolds. With the two showing promising form in pre-season, the decisions made in the coming weeks could significantly shape Celtic’s defensive lineup for the upcoming season.
