Andy Robertson isn’t going to struggle for offers when he leaves Liverpool this summer. A move away from Anfield has been on the cards for a while, and with his contract running down, interest is already building. Celtic are one of the clubs regularly mentioned, but they are far from alone.
Tottenham have been linked most strongly so far, although that situation is a bit complicated. Their push for Robertson could depend on where they end up, with their league position still uncertain and the threat of relegation hanging over them. If things go the wrong way, that changes the picture completely.
Ally McCoist reckons that scenario could open the door for Celtic. If the choice comes down to a spell in the Championship or a return to Scotland, he believes Robertson would lean towards Parkhead. Still, he expects other Premier League sides to step in.
“If you are offering him the option of the Championship or Celtic, I think he would probably take Celtic,” McCoist said on talkSPORT. “But I still think there will be other teams in England’s top flight who would take him.
“He’s been absolutely different class. I can’t believe this. I have said this 100 times. I sound like a broken record. I can’t believe Robbo hasn’t had more game time at Liverpool. Milos Kerkez has come on now.”
Robertson’s situation at Liverpool has shifted over the past year. He has been a key figure for a long time, but the emergence of Kerkez has changed the dynamic. It is not hard to see why the Scot is now looking for somewhere he can play regularly again.
For his part, Robertson has kept things measured. His focus, at least publicly, is on finishing the season properly before thinking about what comes next.
“I am really focused on just trying to finish the season as strongly as possible because that’s what this club deserves from me,” Robertson told reporters a few days after the announcement that he was leaving was made.
“There’s been discussions all season. Last summer, I was close to having a decision to make and I decided to stay. It was the same in January. It was more a discussion with the club and it was an open and honest conversation.
“I’ve always said I’ve had an amazing relationship with the owners and people like that. It was just a sit-down with my wife to see what we wanted next and obviously we’ll see where we go, but it’s important to end this story and we’ll see whatever comes next.
“I want to play, so that was where the discussions came. It’s not like I’ve knocked back a contract or anything; there was no contract on the table. It was a conversation we all had.
“It was a conversation of ‘OK, this is what I want to do, I want to play and I believe I’ve still got the ability to play.’ I think I have shown that this season.
“You can’t be promised anything at this club — and that’s absolutely fine. It can’t be promised at any club. But it’s also maybe time for the story to end and obviously me and Mo [Salah] both made that decision this year.”
Where he ends up is still up in the air, but one thing is clear. Robertson wants to play, and that will shape whatever decision he makes next.