---
title: "Celtic: Leicester’s Callum McGregor bid rejected by Scottish champions"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-leicesters-callum-mcgregor-bid-rejected-by-scottish-champions/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "SPFL News"
published: "2019-08-10T20:20:17Z"
modified: "2019-08-10T20:20:17Z"
---

# Celtic: Leicester’s Callum McGregor bid rejected by Scottish champions

**Celtic rejected a bid from Leicester for midfielder Callum McGregor on Thursday, with the Foxes having hoped to sign him before the Premier League transfer deadline.**

The print edition of the [Daily Mail](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/index.html) reported \[[via BBC](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/49289340)\] that former Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers had made a move for the 26-year-old, but the Scottish champions were not for turning.

According to the [Daily Mail](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/index.html) \[[via Football Scotland](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/transfer-news/celtic-callum-mcgregor-rodgers-leicester-16725752)\], Celtic’s majority shareholder Dermot Desmond told the Leicester manager that McGregor would not be sold at any price.

The [Daily Mail](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/index.html) added \[[via Football Scotland](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/transfer-news/celtic-callum-mcgregor-rodgers-leicester-16725752)\] that the midfielder was apparently keen on speaking with Rodgers but accepted Celtic’s standpoint on the matter.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

McGregor has [featured in all but one of Celtic’s six games so far this season](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/callum-mcgregor/leistungsdaten/spieler/120977), [scoring twice in their Champions League qualifying run](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/callum-mcgregor/leistungsdaten/spieler/120977).

Since [making his debut for the Hoops](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/goal-hero-callum-mcgregor-dreaming-3867364) in 2014, he has played [229 times](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/callum-mcgregor/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/120977) for the club, scoring [38 goals](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/callum-mcgregor/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/120977) (one per 6.03 games) and providing [46 assists](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/callum-mcgregor/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/120977) (one per 4.98 games).

He managed just [six goals in 59 appearances last season](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/callum-mcgregor/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/120977) but proved to be a consistent creator of chances, registering [16 assists](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/callum-mcgregor/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/120977) (one per 3.69 games), the [second most in Celtic’s squad after James Forrest](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-fc/leistungsdaten/verein/371/reldata/%262018/plus/1).

His performances for Celtic in 2018/19 saw him named both the [club’s and players’ Player of the Year](https://www.celticfc.net/news/16098), while [no professional footballer in the world played more than his 5,894 minutes last season](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/meisteeinsaetze/gesamteinsaetze/statistik/2017/plus/0/galerie/0?saison_id=2018&wettbewerb_id=&land_id=0&altersklasse=alle&yt0=Show) (via Transfermarkt).

McGregor, who [captained Scotland last March in Andrew Robertson’s absence](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/other-football/new-scotland-captain-callum-mcgregor-16005002), has been hailed for his leadership qualities by fellow Scotland international Stuart Armstrong, who [Football Scotland](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/other-football/new-scotland-captain-callum-mcgregor-16005002) quoted as saying: “He is very organised. Sometimes you play with players who are natural leaders on the pitch who spur the team on, not so much vocally but naturally with their play.

“Callum is definitely one of those players. He has a lot of respect in that sense.”

McGregor has also demonstrated tremendous versatility during his time at Celtic, [frequently shuffling between central midfield, attacking midfield and wide positions](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/callum-mcgregor/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/120977).

He even took up a defensive midfield role for the Hoops last season, with then-manager Rodgers saying: “He has been absolutely exceptional in that role but I say that everywhere he plays.” \[[via Daily Record](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/callum-mcgregor-hailed-celtic-boss-13532749)\].

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

McGregor has shown himself to be a tremendous team player for Celtic, willingly adapting to whatever role he is asked to assume.

Also, his reported acceptance of Celtic’s firm rebuffing of Leicester’s bid indicates that he is professional enough to get on with his job without moaning publicly or threatening to go AWOL.

McGregor seems to remain a central part of Neil Lennon’s plans and, judging by last season, his creativity and versatility could be vital to the Hoops again this term.

***Celtic fans, just how crucial is McGregor to the team? Share your thoughts by commenting below!***