Contrasting Jamie Vardy transfer answer tells Celtic fans everything as boss changes tune

Contrasting Jamie Vardy transfer answer tells Celtic fans everything as boss changes tune

Rodgers would neither rule a move for the Leicester City legend in or out and that in itself was a clue

Jamie Vardy and Brendan Rodgers

As a man who picks every word carefully, it's hard not to read into Brendan Rodgers' answer when asked about the prospect of Celtic signing Jamie Vardy.

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The 38-year-old is a free agent after bringing a legendary 13-year spell at Leicester City to an end this summer after their relegation from the Premier League.

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Reports emerged from down south on Monday claiming that Vardy was desperate to make the move to Parkhead and link up with Rodgers once again, having thrived under the Irishman with the Foxes, helping fire them to European qualification and an FA Cup triumph.

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Inevitably, Rodgers was asked the question ahead of the Hoops' crunch Champions Leagye playoff clash with Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan.

And he essentially read straight from the manager's transfer playbook, not committing to anything or ruling it out while talking highly of the player.

‘Listen I would not speak about any individual player,: he said. "Of course, I've worked really well with Jamie.

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(Image: Getty Images)

‘He was brilliant for me in my time at Leicester. But no, there's been so many names floated about. But I wouldn't disclose anyone."

Rodgers took a similar approach in the midst of speculation surrounding Kasper Schmeichel last summer, and we know how that one turned out: "Kasper's a very, very good one. I know Kasper really well but there's lots of names and clearly I'm not going to tell you."

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Run of the mill stuff, until you compare it to what Rodgers said about Odsonne Edouard.

The Frenchman is on the way out of Crystal Palace and was linked with a return to Celtic, who signed him from PSG for £9million during Rodgers' first spell.

But it was one the Irishman knocked down pretty quickly.

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“Big names don’t always give you what you need," he said. "This team needs hunger, goals and work rate and intensity.

“Big names don’t always give you that. It’s about big players.

“I just want players who are hungry to learn but also ready now. There are lots of players linked with us.

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“Odsonne hasn't been on my radar, to be fair. I obviously know him but it’s about a player who will fit into the structure of the team.”

Odsonne Edouard (Image: Getty Images)

While a deal for Edouard would always have been a stretch financially, Vardy is a veteran free agent which removes a few obstacles.

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But it also suggests that if Vardy wasn't happening then the Parkhead boss would have said so.

And his transfer checklist also tallies with what he said about the striker when he first met him in the Leicester dressing room.

“He’s just right up my street in terms of devilment and running and hunger to score. From that, we’ve struck up a strong relationship.

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“He knows where the line is. He’s a great boy. I love his energy. I love his passion. He actually loves football, which helps. He knows the game.

"He has real desire to score goals, to work, to be the best he can and to succeed. In this type of culture, that’s perfect.

“He has a smile everyday, he has fun, but he knows when he’s working as well. In the games, you can see what he’s taking from training. He’s such a threat.

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“We talk about his numbers and his efficiency, it’s absolutely phenomenal.”

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