OPINION
Celtic fans should be concerned. Very concerned.
In fact, with the Leicester City job newly available following Sunday’s sacking of Claude Puel, it’s fair to say many should be worried sick about how much longer the club can hang on to Brendan Rodgers.
Naturally, the northern Irishman said all the right things in the wake of his side’s Sunday win over Motherwell, a ninth consecutive domestic triumph, explaining how he is concentrating only on doing his best for the Glasgow giants.
Rodgers stopped short of distancing himself totally from Leicester, or any other potential Premier League employer, by claiming he will be staying put in Glasgow.
That is probably too much to expect from the Celtic faithful who have been blown away by their club’s total dominance of the Scottish game during Rodgers’ three seasons.
A hat-trick of trebles is firmly on the cards and, although European weaknesses continue to haunt the club, they are the undisputed kings of the SPL while playing a brand of football that is fluent and easy on the eye.
What else has Rodgers got to achieve in Scotland, other than Champions League progress that appears beyond the club given the financial restrictions?
Alan Shearer does not know whether the ex-Liverpool boss will quit for Leicester with three months of the season left, but is in no doubt that the vacant King Power Stadium role is one that will interest the Celtic boss.
“Brendan Rodgers is favourite for the job but still has a lot to play for with Celtic in Scotland,” Shearer told the Sun. “So whether they can prise him away now or at the end of the season, I don’t know.
“Whoever it is will go into a very good club with good players, where you can spend money. It’s a very attractive job.”
Certainly, Leicester have a playing budget that is at a different level to Celtic’s, and the calibre of their senior players – Jamie Vardy, Kasper Schmeichel, James Maddison, Wes Morgan, Nampalys Mendy, Harry Maguire – and rising stars – Demarai Gray, Harvey Barnes, Youri Tielemans – is a mouthwatering prospect for a manager of Rodgers’ renown.
Only the man himself will know how happy he is at Celtic and in remaining a big fish in a pond that does not compare with the Premier League for size.
But, as Shearer attests, Leicester have a pull and attraction that may be too much for the Scottish champions to resist.