Valle 'still very much' a Celtic player - Rodgers

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says Alex Valle "is still very much a player here" - despite reports suggesting the left-back could return to parent club Barcelona - but admits there are "lots of moving parts" during the January transfer window.

The Scottish champions have held talks to re-sign their former defender, Kieran Tierney, on a pre-contract agreement with the 27-year-old Scotland international destined to be freed by Arsenal this summer.

It has led to speculation that Tierney could see out the rest of his current deal on loan at Celtic Park and further reduce 20-year-old Valle's playing time given the Spaniard is second choice behind Scotland cap Greg Taylor, 27.

"Alex is still very much a player here," Rodgers said as his Scottish Cup holders prepared for Saturday's fourth-round visit by Kilmarnock.

"Lots of rumours around lots of players and lots of moving parts, but at this very moment, Alex is here and getting ready for the game."

Taylor's future is also in the balance as he too is out of contract this summer, while reports in Spain have claimed that Serie A club Como are interested in taking Valle on loan should his time in Glasgow be cut short this month.

"He's loved his time here," Rodgers said of Valle. "He's become a Champions League player coming to Celtic and he's in no rush to leave.

"However, if something was to change on that front, where he may not be getting the game time, then I have to be open and honest with him to let him understand this, but he knows absolutely the picture here."

Champions League squads cannot be changed until the league stage ends as Celtic prepare to face Young Boys on Wednesday and Aston Villa on 29 January - five days before the window closes on 3 February.

"Obviously, the window is open for a little bit longer than the end of January," Rodgers said. "So that always gives time."

The Celtic manager stressed "there's absolutely no way" he would leave himself short of options at left-back and remains "fairly confident" he will add to his squad.

Rodgers added that he thought the extension of European league stage games beyond Christmas had resulted in a general slowness in the transfer market at the top level and stressed "you just have to be patient".