Brendan Rodgers dismisses Tom Rogic contract speculation

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has refuted rumours which have suggested that Tom Rogic has declined a new contract with the Scottish champions. The Australia international joined the Hoops from Central Coast Mariners back in the summer of 2013 when Neil Lennon was still the club’s head coach. He has since been an influential player in the first-team, but his future has been put in question as he approaches the final year of his current contract.

In an interview with Sky Sports, Rodgers was quizzed about the contractual situation of Rogic after Australian publication The World Game suggested that he had turned down a probable extension. He told the publication: “I am not aware of that to be honest. We have just arrived back from Russia. I know Tom and his representatives have been speaking with the club for a little bit of time but that [the reports] are the first I have heard about that.”

Rogic was an integral figure in Rodgers’ invincible treble-winning side during the previous campaign, and he happened to score a last-minute winner versus Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup to achieve this feat for the club. He has, however, not managed to replicate his success after a two-month absence through a knee injury, and this has brought a sense of frustration for the attacker.

Despite the speculation, Rodgers has described Rogic as a ‘joy to work with’, and he is hoping to prolong the Australian’s stay beyond the summer, where he is expected to feature for his nation at the World Cup finals. Rogic has appeared in 29 matches for the Glasgow giants across all competitions this term, but nearly half of those have come from the substitutes’ bench, which may have triggered the speculation over his future at Parkhead beyond the 2017/18 season.