Brendan Rodgers has delivered a brutal assessment on Craig Gordon- prior to taking over as Celtic manager.
The hoops keeper is the subject of interest from Chelsea who are looking for a back up keeper in order to sell Asmir Begovic to Bournemouth.
Gordon could pick up a hefty pay rise, perhaps treble his current salary, but first team opportunities will be limited at Stamford Bridge.
Interest in Gordon is the first major off park issue that Rodgers has had to deal with at Celtic with the hoops boss determined to retain control on proceedings.
Speaking to Radio Scotland before yesterday’s 4-0 win over Hearts Rodgers said: “He is a player that, with all due respect, when myself and my staff came in here he was a far cry away from what he is now as a goalkeeper.
“He is a goalkeeper who, whenever I studied the games here in the past, when the ball went back to Craig the crowd were nervous and the players were nervous and he was probably nervous.
“He has gone away and worked on how we want him to play and has got himself into the team and has been absolutely brilliant, first class.
“Chelsea have an interest in him but for any interest to be activated there has to be a valuation of the player that has to be met.
“We don’t want to sell him of course but if there’s any way that would make Celtic think then there has to be an offer that would allow us to do that as a club. And what came in was nowhere near that level.
“There’s nothing we have got from Chelsea that would make us think in any way we would want to lose a goalkeeper. He is a goalkeeper I really want to keep here. I have enjoyed seeing his progress and development.
“If you look at him now his game because of our style has elevated him to one of the best clubs in Europe wanting to take him down there as a number two.
“I have had a few conversations with him and he is clear where we are at. I understand the lure of it (Chelsea bid) and I also understand what it would mean for Craig to go there as a number two for the next two years and waste away his career in not playing games.”
Gordon signed a three year contract with Celtic in July 2014 then signed a new three year deal in 2015.
With 18 months left on the current deal Celtic are in control and looking to offer the keeper an extended contract on better terms.
Chelsea are looking at a number of back-up options but it’s believed that Gordon is their first choice.