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Rodgers plays down Gerrard's Celtic link

Phil Noble / Reuters

Brendan Rodgers refused to discuss speculation that Steven Gerrard could be joining his Celtic side in January, but says he can understand the link due to the notoriety of both parties.

The LA Galaxy confirmed on Tuesday that Gerrard had called time on his MLS sojourn and, although the 36-year-old is currently collecting his coaching badges, there is a sense that the Liverpool legend is considering a swansong before ending his playing days.

However, Rodgers, his former Reds' boss who's now handling Celtic, would not be drawn into speaking on rumours that Gerrard's last stop could be in Glasgow.

"Players coming into the club I never speculate on," Rodgers told BBC Sport's Richard Wilson. "With regards to Steven, he's been an incredible player. I had a number of years with him at Liverpool when he was absolutely brilliant for me.

"It's that time of the year now, we're getting towards the January window, Stevie's time has finished out there at Galaxy, so there's speculation about where he might go."

Gerrard's time under Rodgers featured one of the closest occasions that the 114-time England international got to a Premier League winners medal, when Liverpool narrowly missed out on top spot to Manchester City in the 2013-14 season.

This success, coupled with the fact that Rodgers has reunited himself with the likes of Kolo Toure and Scott Sinclair in Parkhead, has fuelled whispers that Gerrard is off to Celtic Park.

"Of course there's a natural look at Celtic because of the size of the club, it's a club he admired, and I've got some of my former players here working with me. But we always keep our business behind closed doors," Rodgers continued.

"(Coaching) is something I'm sure he would want to do. Back (at Liverpool), him and Kolo Toure were doing their B Licence coaching badges - I know that Kolo has just passed his, which is great for him - but they were both great warriors and players."

With the return of archrival Rangers to the Scottish Premiership, competitiveness has stepped up a notch on both the pitch and in the transfer market, making Gerrard's shift to the country's largest city entirely conceivable.

Celtic currently occupies top spot in Scottish football, holding a 10-point cushion over second-placed Aberdeen.

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