Why Derby County might like big Celtic news involving Brendan Rodgers | OneFootball

Brendan Rodgers' sacking at Celtic may affect a January transfer for a loanee at Derby County

Brendan Rodgers' second stint at Celtic is over, as the former Leicester City and Liverpool boss resigned following his side's 3-1 loss at Hearts.

The Northern Irish manager had been in the dugout for just over two years, winning two Scottish Premierships, a Scottish Cup and a Scottish League Cup during that time.

The news came quite out of the blue, despite a middling start to the campaign by their own lofty standards.

Celtic are currently eight points adrift from a Hearts side that top the table, having won eight and drawn one of their nine SPL games.

Celtic are also having to compete in the Europa League following a shock exit on penalties in their Champions League qualifying round tie against Kazakh side FC Kairat.

The resignation was also seen as a surprise because Brendan Rodgers was seemingly preparing his January signings as he looked to give his side a boost ahead of the second half of the campaign.

Now, these deals may be on thin ice, and strangely, Derby County may feel like they're a small winner from Rodgers' decision to walk from Celtic Park.

Bobby Clark may ride the season out at Derby County

It has been just shy of two weeks since The Times revealed that Bobby Clark was on the radar of Celtic, and despite being on loan at Derby, was ready to make a permanent move to Celtic Park this January.

Clark left Liverpool last August to link up with Jurgen Klopp's former assistant Pep Lijnders at RB Salzburg in a deal worth up to £10 million.

The 20-year-old made 14 senior appearances at Anfield, including one in the EFL Cup final in 2024, as 'Klopp's kids' famously beat out Chelsea in extra time. He seemed destined to break into the squad more regularly, but was allowed to leave when Arne Slot took over.

At Salzburg, he didn't make much of an impact, scoring once in 25 appearances in all competitions, and was free to head out on loan to Derby this year.

Clark has played a part in all but one Championship outing under John Eustace this season, making six starts. However, it seemed that his future lay away from Pride Park, as Celtic and Brendan Rodgers were waiting in the wings to secure a permanent move from the Austrian side this January.

Now that Rodgers has left Celtic Park, this move seems back in the balance, and depending on who replaces the Northern Irishman in the dugout, Clark may no longer be favoured for a move to Scotland, leaving him free to see out the year at Derby, as his loan move suggests.

Derby County fans want to see more from Bobby Clark, especially if he stays at Pride Park

It's safe to say that not many Derby fans were losing sleep over the fact that Clark could be leaving in January to join Celtic.

In the replies to The Times' post on X, announcing the Hoops' intentions to bring the former Liverpool man to Celtic Park, comments stating that he's been "bang average," and "shocking" emerged, and how he "hasn't set Pride Park alight".

Evidently, if Clark is to remain at Derby for the rest of the season, he's got a lot of making up to do to prove to the Rams fans that he's good enough to still contribute throughout the campaign.

Clark completed 90 minutes in Derby's most recent win against outside play-off hopefuls QPR, in what was the Rams' best performance of the season in many eyes. If he can keep contributing to results such as that, it will go a long way in endearing himself to the fans at Pride Park.