CELTIC manager Brendan Rodgers has intimated that goalkeeper Craig Gordon will be in line for a significant hike in salary as the Parkhead side reiterated that the Scotland internationalist will not be sold before the end of the transfer window.

Chelsea had an offer for the 34-year-old turned down by Celtic this week as the Stamford Bridge side seek a replacement for Asmir Begovic, who is in line for a £12 million switch to Bournemouth.

It was believed that Gordon himself, however, was keen to talk with the Stamford Bridge side in order to ascertain the package on offer, but when asked if he expected the player to still be in Glasgow after Tuesday night’s window closes, Rodgers was unambiguous.

“Will Craig Gordon still be here? Absolutely,” said the Celtic manager. “Because the strength is with the club. There are 18 months left here and where do I get another goalkeeper at this stage, when I am looking to build something?

“It’s been a long, hard road for Craig to get to the level where I wanted him to be at, but he took it on board and trained hard and tactically he understood it. So I’m not really of the mindset to throw all of that out and be left having to look for another Champions League goalkeeper.”

Gordon is contracted to Celtic until June 2018 but the goalkeeper can expect to be in line for a bumper new deal over the coming weeks as Rodgers looks to hang on to him.

“Craig is enjoying it here but as a club we have to look after him as well,” said Rodgers. “That’s the message. I always say: ‘Look after the roof when it’s sunny. Don’t wait to fix it when it’s raining.’ The best clubs do that. Craig is in a brilliant position now. This is the best place for Craig.”

Rodgers called Gordon into the club to speak to him when Thursday’s bid was rejected by Celtic. Gordon missed two seasons through career-threatening injuries and, while there was an acknowledgement that the financial incentive available to him at Chelsea would be enticing, the Celtic manager believes there are other aspects of the game which motivate the player.

“I have spoken to him at length,” said Rodgers. “He’s a good guy.

I was only aware of it yesterday so I sent him a message and said come in, let’s have a chat. He’s cool and calm. It’s nice and flattering for him.

“Listen, he also respects the position he was in a few years ago. He wasn’t playing. Celtic gave him an opportunity and in the last six months everyone can see his game has gone to another level – he has regained his international place.

“Chelsea is a fantastic club but it’s also about what you want. For him now it has to be about playing for as long as he can.”

Losing his first-choice goalkeeper would put Rodgers in the difficult position of having to replace him as the window closes, with Dorus de Vries – who arrived during the summer – having not featured since September.

While Chelsea’s interest in Gordon guarantees the player a better contract at Celtic, Rodgers acknowledges that it is a price worth paying to avoid the far more costly challenge of replacing him.

“I don’t like to put valuations on because then it’s a stigma,” said the Celtic manager. “But if you look at it, everyone is looking for top goalkeepers and I wouldn’t begin to imagine it.

“There is talk of Begovic being £10m or £12m, so you are not going to sell one and bring one in to replace for say £2m or £3m, are you? Why would you do it? You wouldn’t. If that’s the numbers... but I’ve no interest in doing it for any of the players. We don’t want to sell.”