BRENAN RODGERS has strongly hinted Dedryck Boyata will be off either in January or the summer after talking about the player’s contract situation.
The Celtic manager has nothing negative to say about the defender but has conceded the Belgium international is weighing up his options.
It was late on in the summer transfer window when Boyata tried to push through a deal to Fulham – Rodgers confirmed there was a bid for his services and there was a quite public spat between the manager and the player with Rodgers insisting Boyata was fit to play for Celtic while the defender refused to play because he said he was injured.
After the whole episode, we saw a sharp return to focus from Boyata who walked out into Celtic Park reading a banner unveiled by the Green Brigade which read ‘ Boyata’s not fit to wear the jersey’ – he would go on to score the only goal of the game and win Celtic three valuable points.
Since then the 28-year-old has been ever present in the Celtic team and Rodgers is proud of Dedryck but is pragmatic when it comes to a new Celtic contract.
The manager would obviously love to keep him but these comments suggest the Irishman can see the writing on the wall.
“Boyata is in the last year of his deal, but I am quite relaxed on it. He has to look at every option possible.” Rodgers told SunSport.
“He has created a market for himself now because of how he has performed, which is great for him.
“Careers are short. There has been no lack of commitment from Boyata since last summer as you have seen.
“But as a professional player, he has every right to wait and see what happens.
“I can assure everyone that doesn’t take away from his commitment to what we’re doing here.
“The next contract may be the last big one of his career as he is 28 now, and he just has to make sure it’s the right one.
“I am relaxed with it because there has been no drop off in mentality. There has never been with him.
“He has been absolutely first class for me. We will just assess the situation as time goes on”.
