Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has talked up Jon Flanagan's qualities when asked if he is preparing to raid Liverpool for his former charge.
Rodgers worked closely with Flanagan throughout his time at Anfield and is a big fan of the young full-back, whom he regularly lauded while in charge on Merseyside.
He has been strongly linked with moving to try to take Flanagan to Celtic Park, but the former Liverpool boss feels his successor Jurgen Klopp will no doubt be a big fan of the full-back.
And so while Rodgers did not rule out a move, he struck a pessimistic note, explaining he is sure Klopp is counting on Flanagan for the forthcoming season.
Asked about a swoop for Flanagan, Rodgers told a press conference in Kazakhstan: "Jon's a young player that I know very well.
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"But he is currently a Liverpool player and I am sure Jurgen will have assessed his qualities and I am sure he will want to have him in his squad because he is very exciting, a local boy who is a top young player.
"And that's where we're at with that", Rodgers added.
Rodgers has taken his Celtic side to Kazakhstan for the first leg of their Champions League qualifying tie against local team FC Astana.
The Kazakh outfit qualified for the group stage in the Champions League last season and the former Liverpool boss will no doubt be wary of the banana skin lying in front of his side.
