Three Leicester stars Celtic boss Rodgers could reunite with

Signing players from previous clubs is a characteristic that many managers share, especially in the modern game.

It was a tactic that former boss Ange Postecoglou was fond of, acquiring Daizen Maeda and Tomoki Iwata from Yokohama F Marinos.

During Brendan Rodgers' first spell at Celtic, he called upon former players such as Scott Sinclair and Kolo Toure to provide experience, having managed them at Swansea City and Liverpool, respectively.

With his return to Parkhead confirmed and the transfer window now opened, here are three players that Rodgers could realistically reunite with from his time at the Foxes...

Danny Ward

A familiar face to Scottish football, Ward has worked under Rodgers at two of his previous clubs in Liverpool and Leicester. Indeed, it was at the former that the Wales international was loaned out to Aberdeen, where he excelled, finishing second in the Scottish Premiership.

Ward, who previously was the backup to Kasper Schmeichel, was installed as Leicester’s new no. 1 following the departure of the Dane to Nice last summer. In what was a dreadful season for the club, Ward made multiple errors which led to goals for the opposition. This resulted in third-choice goalkeeper Daniel Iverson taking his place until the end of the season. 

At the time Rodgers felt like Ward had to be taken out of the firing line. He said: "It’s important to give a goalkeeper a good run of games and Danny Ward deserved that.

"But I had a long conversation with him before the Chelsea game in terms of what I expect, the standard I expect, and what I want from a goalkeeper, and I just felt after the Chelsea game I wanted to make the change.

"Daniel is a good shot-stopper, good on crosses and has a calmness to him. Wardy took it great, we had an honest conversation, and he’s disappointed at how he’s done."

Much like Joe Hart two seasons ago, Ward will be a player looking to rebuild his confidence, perhaps in a new location. With two years left on his deal at just 29 years of age, he may be a target that Rodgers looks to reinvigorate.

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Daniel Amartey

Signed by Claudio Ranieri in January 2016 during Leicester’s title-winning season, Ghana international Amartey has been a bit-part player for the Foxes in his seven years at the club.

Soon to be a free agent, he can operate in a number of positions, such as a defensive midfielder or further back as a central defender and has also been deployed as a right-back on occasion too.

Despite his failure to regularly hold down a place in the starting line-up, the 28-year-old made 145 appearances in all competitions for the side, winning both the Premier League and the FA Cup during his time down south, as well as the Community Shield.

When Amartey was playing in the centre of defence, Rodgers was quick to praise the player’s attitude. Speaking after Leicester’s 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace last October, he said: "What I know with him is he gives everything.

"With the centre-backs, you’re always looking at the combination, it’s very important. Any team, no matter how successful they are, it’s always built around the two centre-backs, and the boys were solid today. They helped keep the clean sheet.”

Now available to discuss terms with other clubs, Rodgers may elect to enlist the services of the versatile player, though wages could be a sticking point.

With big money potentially about to be spent in other areas, securing Amartey’s services on a free transfer may be a smart move for Rodgers.

Hamza Choudhury

A product of Leicester’s youth academy, Choudhury was handed his first Premier League start under the Northern Irishman in a 3-0 win over Arsenal in 2019, where he earned rave reviews for his performance.

Capped by England at under-21 level, the defensive midfielder spent last season out on loan at Championship side Watford, where he made 37 appearances in all competitions.

Like Amartey, Choudhury has been used as a bit-part player. Tenacious in the tackle but mobile, Choudhury has also not ruled out the possibility of representing Bangladesh internationally, though he can also play for Grenada through his father.

Rodgers deployed him as both a midfielder and defender while in charge of Leicester, likening him to a former Barcelona and Liverpool star in the process.

In an interview following a stellar performance at the back for Leicester against future club Watford in the FA Cup, Rodgers said: "Hamza is someone who has played in a back three or in a back two in training and played it very well, so I rang him up and said 'Tomorrow, you're going to be the new Mascherano for Leicester!' We talked it through and talked through it today.

"I thought he was sensational in the game. Sometimes it happens like that for a midfield player stepping back. He was defensively quick, making interceptions and blocks, his recovery speed was incredible and that's why you always have quick players, especially how we play, squeezing the pitch. His passing was excellent in the main as well, so I'm delighted for him."

READ MORE: Can Celtic develop in Europe under Rodgers? - Alan Morrison

Choudhury’s contract expires next summer, so a move for him may not necessarily be out of the question for Rodgers. Clearly a fan of the player, the new Celtic boss may finally be able to unlock his full potential, where he could really excel both domestically and in Europe.

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