Brendan Rodgers explained why Daniel Kelly is no longer part of his first team squad and wished Rocco Vata well after he decided to reject the terms on offer at Celtic to instead see out his contract before signing for Watford at the start of this month.
Rodgers revealed after the midweek 6-4 win at Queen’s Park that he had offered Vata first team football this season as one of his three strikers and also that he reckons that the deal offered by Celtic to both young players who have come through the Celtic Academy have been excellent.
Vata has moved on with Rodgers wishing him well and Kelly looks to be going down a similar path with his current Celtic deal running out at the end of the year.
“There’s no impasse as Daniel, like Rocco, he has been offered a deal which is valued and, with the greatest respect, I have worked with young players and I know the levels of young players and where they’re at from a technical perspective and a financial perspective. Both those boys have been offered deals by the club,” Brendan Rodgers said, as reported by Daily Record.
Kelly is of course free to speak to clubs now regarding a pre-contract and it might be better all round if a transfer can be agreed this summer. He certainly won’t be involved at Celtic, after making his debut under Rodgers last season.
“Rocco was offered it and he was going to be one of the three strikers at Celtic and he decided that that wasn’t going to be for him. So he then leaves. That is absolutely fine and we wish him all the very best. Similarly Daniel has been offered a really, really good contract.
“A contract that would see him come into the first-team squad and play and perform and develop. I spoke with the agents and player some months back to say if we can’t tidy this up by summer, then it’s very hard to be with the team in pre-season,” Brendan said.
“I like Daniel but he has a lot of work to do and I feel that for him and the family, this is a great place for him to be able to do that.
“You’ve got a manager who sees a talent there, who sees the physicality he has and areas he needs to brush up. What a great club and place this is for him to be able to do that. If that’s not enough then that’s okay, absolutely fine. It’s disappointing that it hasn’t happened because he would have had a great opportunity this pre-season.”
Fabrizio Romano curiously got involved in the Rocco Vata contract stand-off with Celtic which led to his departure for Watford and the well-informed transfer expert journalist seemed to have had the inside track from the players side.
Many Celtic supporters will have noticed that this seems to be the case with Daniel Kelly too, with Romano posting about him earlier this week.
🚨🟢⚪️ 2005 born talent Daniel Kelly could leave Celtic as free agent in January.
There’s still no agreement after Celtic proposal to the player, could be one to watch as many European top clubs follow him including Bayer Leverkusen.
Celtic have rejected all approaches so far. pic.twitter.com/DoB2Pyw4zm
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 10, 2024
Celtic will receive a compensation fee for Vata of £237k – for twelve years of development. selling Kelly now for say £1m would be a better alternative. Whatever happens the clarity from the manager is both welcome and admirable while noting that both players absolutely have the right to determine their own futures in the game.
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“Kelly must go” I fought the board and the board lost. ECL winner with Alonso next season.