Moussa Dembele has handed Brendan Rodgers a massive problem by revealing that he feels it is time to move on from Celtic.
The hoops boss has handled the situation diplomatically over the last month but now that the striker’s feelings are out in the open the situation takes on a new dynamic.
Celtic fans have come to accept that their club is a stepping stone to bigger pay days, usually at Southampton, but getting behind a player who would rather be elsewhere is a different matter.
Once a player is of that opinion they quickly become yesterday’s man in the eyes of the support with Leigh Griffiths willing and able to take Dembele’s place in the side and put the ball in the net.
Tonight at Firhill Rodgers has a three way dilemma also involving Odsonne Edouard after Chris Davies revealed Dembele’s intentions.
“Moussa talks to Brendan regularly,” the hoops assistant explained to The Sun. “Time has gone on and there has been interest in him.
“There is also an acceptance that maybe Moussa feels it is the right time for him to move on.
“When a player feels that way then there is not an awful lot of point in stopping them — unless you really have to. So that’s kind of how it’s evolved.”
Dembele is believed to have turned down the chance to speak to Brighton but on his current form is unlikely to be the subject of offers from top English clubs.
If Dembele feels that it is time to move on he won’t find many fans pleading with him to stay which makes managing a £20m asset a big problem for the Celtic management.