Celtic fans in the Transfer Tavern are raising their glasses of ale and toasting goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who signed a new contract with the club earlier this week.
Since joining the ranks at Parkhead in summer 2014, the former Sunderland shot-stopper has firmly established himself as the Bhoys’ No.1 and is now on course to claim a third consecutive Scottish Premiership title as their resident goalkeeper.
Earlier this week, the Scotland international signed a three-year contract that will keep him at the club until 2020, but it could well be a very different story right now if history had taken a different route during the January transfer window.
Indeed, Premier League pace-setters Chelsea – who, much like Celtic, appear nailed on for the top flight crown this season – launched two bids for the 6 foot 4 glovesman at the start of 2017. However, both were turned down by Celtic, which reportedly prompted Brendan Rodgers to tie the 34-year-old down to a new deal as soon as possible.
Further discussing his new deal and Chelsea’s January interest, Gordon has revealed he’s more than happy to continue his career at Celtic – and that he was never close to pushing for a move back to the Premier League two months ago.
As quoted by The Evening Times, he said; “I could have made a big fuss about it and players have done that by coming out publicly to force it through. But I am not that type of person. Irrespective of that, the club wanted to keep me and I was happy to stay. I could have done, but that’s not really me. It wouldn’t have got me very far. You just get on with it.”
In regards to the new deal, Gordon stated; “I’m playing. There is no guarantee of playing games down there. I could have done, I might not have done. The fact I’m playing, winning, having the opportunity to play in the Champions League and winning those matches, I was desperate to do it. That’s why I came here in the first place. I’ve had a little taste of it and I’d love to get back there and have some more.”
Would Gordon have cut the mustard at Stamford Bridge? Let us know by commenting below!
