Brendan Rodgers issued a coy response when quizzed about Cameron Carter-Vickers' contract situation at Celtic.

The American has been a top performer since he moved to the club in 2021 and he is now one of the first names on the team sheet for his manager Rodgers.

Carter-Vickers initially moved to Celtic on a loan deal from Tottenham, but he then made his deal permanent and he is currently contracted at the club until 2026.

Despite this, this week reports suggested Premier League interest from West Ham and Brentford and there was also talk that a Celtic contract extension had been placed in front of the 26-year-old.

Rodgers was quizzed on this suggestion after yesterday's Scottish Cup win over Buckie Thistle and he appeared to dismiss the claims. 

He told BBC Sportsound: "No. I didn't know that, so...

"(I would know) probably before you, I would say."

Meanwhile, Rodgers told Rocco Vata he had to continue earning the right to play after the 18-year-old netted his first goal in a 5-0 Scottish Gas Scottish Cup victory over Buckie Thistle.

The winger has been linked with clubs such as Sampdoria, Bologna and Como and his contract expires in the summer, but he was handed his first appearance of the season and tapped home from close range to round off the win.

Rodgers, who also brought 18-year-old debutant Daniel Kelly off the bench, said: “Young players have to earn the right. There’s been a lot of noise around Rocco but any young player has to earn the opportunity. I’ve given many young players opportunities in my career.

“But I like Rocco, he has qualities. He is strong, he’s aggressive, he wants to get goals. When he came on he got his goal and he had other opportunities.

“And Daniel Kelly is a young player I really like. If he keeps progressing and developing he will have a big future. He is left-sided, he is quick and strong, he presses the game very well.

“They get a taste of it and hopefully that gives them the motivation and determination to continue progressing.”

When asked about Vata’s future, Rodgers said: “That will be up to him. He’s a talent.

“It depends what the mentality is with him and his representatives. You get some young players whose representatives will tell you if they are not playing in the first team, starting, they don’t want to stay. You better go then, because you have got to earn the right.

“He is 18, I don’t need players ready at 18 unless they are real, real special talents, but by 20-21 they need to be ready.

“But you can see he has tools and this can be a really good place for him to develop.”