JEFFREY SCHLUPP has revealed he’s open to signing talks with Celtic over a permanent deal.
The on-loan Crystal Palace left-back is out of contract and up for grabs this summer.
5
5
5
Kieran Tierney will be first choice, but boss Brendan Rodgers is looking for a replacement for Greg Taylor, who looks set to move on.
Utility man Schlupp, 32, admits he’d consider anything Celts are prepared to offer him beyond May.
He said: “I’m loving it here at the minute.
“Regarding next season, nothing has been spoken about.
READ MORE CELTIC STORIES
“I’m concentrating on this season, getting more minutes and winning more games.
“Hopefully I can finish off the campaign strongly, but everything is a possibility.
“I had to think seriously about coming here in the first place, and anything that happens in the summer will be a big decision for me too — but we’ll see what happens.
“As far as I’m aware, I have come here on loan.
“That’s all that has been mentioned – play to the end of the season, get some minutes in.
“Play well, have some fun and we will see what happens after that.
Forget ‘Feed the Bear’ – Celtic icon Roy Aitken is a dog whisperer now as he makes refuge appeal
“As I’ve said a number of times, I have loved being at Celtic, and my performances have shown that, I think.”
Rodgers is on the hunt for a new left-back as competition for returning hero Tierney, revealing Taylor is on his way out after failing to agree a new deal.
Told that Schlupp would consider an offer from Celtic, the Hoops boss laughed and added: “I bet he would!
“He’s 32, coming to Celtic, and playing in Glasgow.
“But that’s something between now and the end of the season we’ll look at.
“I don’t want to commit too early!
“Jeff’s a great boy, I knew what I was getting, he’s a good type.
“More than a great guy, he can perform and there’s more to come from him.
“Obviously we know we’ve got Kieran coming in the summer, who is high level.
“But we know we’ll need to have someone else if Greg moves on.
“With Jeff, I think he’s got more to come.
“Schlupp has come in to the team, and it’s not that Greg wasn’t playing well.
5
“But in those Champions League games — away to Bayern Munich — he was outstanding.
“Yet he’s still getting to grips with being on the inside and going on the outside.
“He’s had a few months at it while Greg has had a few years at it and been superb.
“But I’m really pleased with Jeff, it’s been a massive move for him, coming to a big club like this, with the huge expectation here.”
Daizen Maeda scored twice against Hearts to take his tally for the season to 30.
Rodgers has revealed the makeshift striker may save him from having to buy a new out-and-out hitman this summer.
He said: “I feel it’s one where if we were to move him back on to the side and take Daizen out of the middle — with all due respect — it’s probably easier for us to bring in a top winger than it would be a top striker.
“But he can quite clearly play the position, and I’m so happy that he can.”
Celts will find out on Monday the extent of the injury which saw Kasper Schmeichel miss the win over Hearts.
But stand-in Finn Viljami Sinisalo impressed on his Premiership debut after a summer move from Aston Villa.
Rodgers added: “I really liked his authority.
“He’s a young keeper we felt could come in and have a season as an understudy learning from a top goalie with a good mentality, knowing he’d not play so much.
5
“I’ve seen Viljami grow from pre-season.
“This was a big game for him against Hearts, but he made a save and will always take the ball.
“I’m really pleased for him getting the clean sheet.
“Kasper has a scan on Monday.
“We don’t believe he’ll need an operation, but it’s about how long it takes to repair and heal.
