Celtic are expected to fight to keep McGregor? Does anybody really believe if a big money Saudi offer comes in for a 32 year old, the board will fight to keep him?

The Callum McGregor to Saudi Arabia rumour has surfaced again in the media.

Late yesterday evening, Mark Pirie of the Record stated that ‘reports have suggested that Brendan Rodgers wants his Saudi club to launch an ambitious bid to sign captain McGregor’.

However, he states that ‘Celtic are expected to fight to keep McGregor if a money-spinning offer from the Middle East does come his way as the midfielder has two years to run on his contract and is unlikely to be in a rush to leave’.

Unlikely to be in a rush to leave?

Okay, first things first.

Any money offers coming from Saudi Arabia would be life changing.

The kind of money that would set McGregor up for life.

He and his family wouldn’t have to worry about money for the rest of their lives.

McGregor is human, and that factor is certainly something to consider.

If this offer materialises – and it remains to be seen if this is just conjecture from Pirie and co. – then it will definitely test McGregor’s loyalties.

There is no doubt about that.

Pirie bases his article on a story in the Al-Riyadh newspaper that says an “experienced foreign midfielder” is on the summer shopping list, with a right winger from overseas also requested by Rodgers and club management.

Now that could be anybody.

But for posterity, let’s just assume that it’s Callum McGregor.

McGregor is a huge asset to Celtic.

And while he may be starting to show his age a bit, there is no questioning his leadership abilities.

The big question here is this, is he replaceable?

At this moment in time, I would have to say no.

With the current state that Celtic is in, we need someone with leadership qualities like Callum McGregor.

But there are two factors at play if the dreaded Saudi offer does materialise.

Firstly, as I alluded to already, there will be life changing money involved.

On that basis, McGregor can provide stability for his family for the rest of their lives.

That would tempt the best of us.

But Brendan Rodgers has two Ace cards up his sleeve in this situation.

Not only does he know he can offer a small fortune to McGregor, but he also knows that when it comes to big money offers to Celtic, the Celtic board are like moths to a flame.

They have an irresistible, often instinctive attraction to the allure of large cash sums.

We know this is ultimately dangerous and destructive to the football operation, but it hasn’t deterred them in the past.

Considering Callum McGregor’s advanced age, does anybody believe if an offer north of £10 million came in, that the board would turn it down?

The chances are that it would probably be substantially more than that figure, so their ability to resist it would be severely tested.

We know that every pound is a prisoner at Celtic.

We know that cash is King.

And it comes above all else at the club.

Regardless of whether it is to the detriment of the footballing operation, or not.

If last summer’s transfer window didn’t tell us that much, nothing ever will.

Look, it’s hard to know if there is any veracity in Pirie’s story on McGregor, but the reality is that Rodgers has the power to lure him away from Celtic if he really wants to.

We already know there’s going to be a mass exodus from the club this summer.

Daizen Maeda, Arne Engels, and Reo Hatate are just three players earmarked for departure.

Add Callum McGregor into the mix, and you’re looking at the spine of midfield gone.

And our captain to boot.

Surely the Celtic board wouldn’t be that stupid?

Would they?

Surely not?

Uh oh, is that the fax machine I hear stirring into life in Silent Mike’s office?

Is the absent meddling golfer getting a whiff of a story from Saudi Arabia?

He might not like Brendan Rodgers any more.

But in his world, cash is the King, not Henrik Larrson.

Much to our detriment, of course.

Developing story?

Only time will tell.

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