Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that there are exit plans in place if the club choose to let young winger Mikey Johnston leave the club this summer but that he is set to stay at Parkhead for the near future.
There have been many rumours surrounding what the Hoops might do with the 19-year-old left sided flyer, with the Daily Record claiming that the 19-year-old could be part of a swap deal to try and secure the signing of Hibernian’s John McGinn.
However, Rodgers insists that for the time being he is remaining with the Bhoys, and that should the time be right, there are plans in place, and clubs in waiting, for him to head out.
He told BT Sport: “We need to develop him, get him some games and if that changes there is a number of options, with teams that would like to take him, but at this moment he stays.
“He is an exciting young talent at 19 years of age. He is learning the other side of the game in terms of the tactical idea of pressing and how to work and how to recover but there is no doubt he is a special talent.”
Opinion
Johnston is following in the footsteps of fellow left sided speed machine Kieran Tierney by trying to break into the first team at Parkhead, but it will be by no means an easy task. Rodgers has given the youngster a lifeline this summer by keeping him around and giving him the chance to prove himself in pre-season, before choosing whether to give him the opportunity in the upcoming campaign, or ship him off to get him some senior game time. It is good to know that there are numerous clubs circling for his capture, for it leaves Rodgers with an easy escape route in case he is not quite at the expected level, and there will be no need to scour the market looking for a suitor to take him on. Still, Johnston cannot allow to use that knowledge as a fallback option, and he must give everything to breaking into the first team this summer.