Liverpool defender Andy Robertson
Andy Robertson expects clarity on his Liverpool future by the time he heads off to the World Cup with Scotland this summer. Liverpool listened to an approach from Tottenham Hotspur for the defender in January in recognition of the defender’s contribution to the club in the last eight and a half years.
However, the Reds ultimately decided against continuing negotiations after considering their options, with Robertson also having not asked for a move. But with his contract set to expire in the summer, Robertson has revealed he wants his Anfield future sorted prior to leading his country into a first World Cup finals in 28 years.
“Will I make a decision before the World Cup? Yeah, that will definitely happen,” he said. “For me, I will make up my mind before the summer, and it’s always been in my head that I don’t want it hanging over me.
“I think that’s important, I don’t think anyone wants that and everyone would be in the same boat. If you’re out of contract and sign a new contract, or whatever you’re doing – you always want that sorted before you go into a big tournament.
“I have always worked towards and have been consistent with. It’s only eight or nine weeks, so from now until the end I’ll sit down with my family and see what we want.”
A potential return to his boyhood club Celtic has been mooted, but when asked about a move to Parkhead, Robertson replied: “It’s not really one to talk about. Obviously I was at Celtic as a kid and had a season ticket, that’s not a secret.
“But it’s not something I really want to get into. The options that are on the table for me at the minute will stay private and that’s the way I’ve always done it.
“People can talk and there’s been a lot of talk around it, where I’m going to go next. I’ve seen it, but I stay away from it all now.”
Robertson has played just three full games in the Premier League this season after losing his place to Milos Kerkez. And the left-back admits the high of Scotland's successful World Cup qualifying campaign has "kept me going" during a tough campaign.
He said: "It's kept me going at times this season, Scotland duty, you know, I can safely say that. Especially at the start of the season when you've got it every three, four weeks. September, October, and November – it was important for me, obviously, playing in such big games.
"It gave you something to focus on, it gave you something to be a part of. I love coming away with the country, but, you know, when you've been playing lots of games at club level, sometimes your mind can wander and things like that.
"I know there's a chance to go and match Jim Leighton, which is something I could only have ever dreamed of. There was a period when I equalled Darren Fletcher then there's been a bit of a long slog to try and catch Jim."
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