Gordon Strachan has revealed he has had a transfer chat with Andy Robertson, as the much-loved Scotsman eyes his next move after waving goodbye to Liverpool at the close of the Brentford match this weekend.
Liverpool fans have had a long time to get used to the idea of Andy Robertson departing Anfield at the end of the season, with the decorated Reds servant revealing he would leave Merseyside at the close of the campaign, back in early April.
That doesn’t mean Sunday’s approaching farewell won’t be emotionally charged, however, with Mohamed Salah also leaving the club behind, meaning the match against Keith Andrews’ Bees will be a touching occasion for every Liverpool supporter inside Anfield.
When the game ends, and both Robertson and Salah leave the Anfield turf to a raucous reception, all talk will then centre on where the Glaswegian and his Egyptian teammate will next call home, having become synonymous with Liverpool.
It has long been speculated that Robertson could move to Tottenham Hotspur, as he possibly remains in the Premier League, with Celtic also a suitor rumoured to be looking at the 32-year-old, with the Scottish defender known to be a Bhoys supporter.
Former Scotland boss Gordon Strachan has revealed that he has had a chat with the Reds’ number 26 about his plausible next destination after Anfield in a new interview that will certainly intrigue Liverpool supporters.
Strachan reveals transfer chat with Robertson
Hull City have even been tipped to win back their former full-back when he becomes a free agent at the close of the season.
Strachan has tried to convince Robertson to move to Dundee, when his Liverpool contract expires, as he jokingly revealed when speaking to Andy’s Bet Club.
Formerly a player at Dens Park, before going on to establish himself in the English game, Strachan clearly sees a lot of himself in the departing defender, with the 69-year-old also handing Robertson his first international chances when he was Scotland manager.
He said: “Well, I made my pitch to Andy Robertson for Dundee because I met him and chatted with him last week.
“So the Dundee deal, I’m sorry for the Dundee fans, is not going to happen. But when I was speaking to him, I was trying to explain my feelings when I left Manchester United, where I felt I was losing my influence at the club.
“There’s no doubt about it, and I was losing my influence on the field as well. Then, when I went somewhere that I felt I was an influence, and I knew I was an influence from the first couple of weeks, it made me feel fantastic.
“People were listening to me, people wanted to see what I was doing, people were watching me train, people wanted to see how I was as a bloke, as a person. That responsibility kicked me on for another three, four, or five years.
“I think that’s the type of thing Andy wants now, a place where he knows he has to be an influence, and everybody is looking at him to say, ‘Right, you’ve been an example of how to be a top footballer.’ I think Andy would take that on because Andy has that.”
Noting further that he has “wonderful humility”, it’s clear Strachan holds Robertson in very high esteem, as do his adoring Liverpool supporters.
It will be very interesting to see what club Robertson next calls home, after nine mainly glorious years at Anfield, with Strachan right to suggest that the 32-year-old will want to move to a club where he’s a main starter again, as he has become a utility body under Arne Slot.
The 92-time Scotland international will, of course, have one eye on transfer developments, but he will also be focused on closing out his distinguished playing days on Merseyside in style, with another goal hopefully coming his way versus Brentford, after he scored against Crystal Palace in late April.
