Brendan Rodgers: Southampton interest in Stuart Armstrong doesn't bother me - I still hope he stays at Celtic

The Barclays Premier League club, who have bought Fraser Forster, Virgil van Dijk and Victor Wanyama from the Parkhead club in recent years, have been linked with a move for Armstrong.

The Scotland internationalist has a season left on his current contract with the Scottish champions, but hasn't agreed to an extension despite opening negotiations at the start of the year.

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Rodgers, who fielded the 25-year-old in the second half of the Glasgow club's 0-0 draw with Slavia Prague in the Czech Republic last night, put talks on hold at the tail end of the 2016/17 campaign.

The Northern Irishman remains optimistic that Armstrong, who only established himself at Celtic last season, will resist the lure of the top flight down south and commit his future to his current club.

“With Stu and Moussa (Dembele) and others there’s obviously lots of gossip and speculation and agents will be drumming up interest," he said. Whether it’s Moussa, Stuart or KT (Kieran Tierney) - it’s out of my control.

"Most of the players are signed to long-term deals, but Stu has a year to run. We’re in negotiations and hopefully that can get done again. If not then it’s ok we’ll keep working and focusing on the next games.

“Gossip and speculation never bothers me. There’s a game and a strategy that goes on behind the scenes that supporters are not so well aware of.

“An agent or someone will try and create a market for their player and the more clubs that are involved the greater hand he may feel he has to negotiate or make a transfer. That’s modern football and I know the game well enough.

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“Stuart is a great boy and one I want to keep. Hopefully over the course of this pre-season he has an extension and a new deal.”

Rodgers continued: “He’s a person I like, a good guy. very bright and very intelligent and I know what he wants out of his life. I said last season I could help him achieve tat in his career and I’ll always be open and honest with him.

“He’s got a knack of scoring goals from that central corridor so that gives him a great value in any market. But the only concern I have is his great value to us and I hope he keeps working with us long into the season.

“Negotiations took place early on and didn’t quite happen and I asked them to stop in preparation for the cup final. I think in the best interests of Stuart we did that, very few players can play while having that distraction and insecurity.

“Then if any offers come in to the club we look at it. But we want him to stay and he’s important and he can develop and push on this year and get more experience of European football. That will add even more value to him.

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“Players careers are very short and he understands what he has. Everything has to be right. How negotiation works is that the player has to win and the club has to win. It can’t be one way. It doesn’t work. We need a solution and I’m sure that will be the case."

Rodgers, the former Swansea City and Liverpool manager, believes Armstrong would be best served remaining at Celtic for the foreseable future.

“For him I think this is the best place for him," he said. “I know the Premiership inside out and if he wants to go there then okay, he can still get there but to arrive at the right moment is important.

“To arrive as an established European player, winning trophies and with more international experience. I understand why anyone would want to play in England as I worked there. But to arrive in the best moment you can is the way to do it."