Brendan Rodgers has delivered an honest overview of Celtic’s transfer window so far and how he wants the squad to look by the deadline.
The Irishman has made four additions this summer: Kasper Schmeichel, Viljami Sinisalo, Paulo Bernardo, and Adam Idah.
However, the Bhoys are still yet to sign an outfield player who wasn’t already a part of the squad last term, so you can understand the palpable frustration among supporters.
Celtic are reported to be interested in plenty of individuals, Augsburg’s Arne Engels, Sheffield United defender Auston Trusty and Lausanne’s Alvyn Sanches as examples, but nothing appears to be on the verge of happening with a week left of the summer window.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference before Celtic take on St Mirren, Rodgers has offered a candid summary of his feelings towards the situation.
Brendan Rodgers on the Celtic transfer window
Per Clyde 1 Superscoreboard, Rodgers admitted that every manager can be prone to frustration on the transfer front, though he is still optimistic that the club can move for targets over the coming week.
He explained in full: “I’ve been here before; I can manage it better now. It doesn’t make me any less ambitious. This is the club that I want to be at and I want to do the very, very best because I know I represent the supporters to drive the team and the club forward.
“I think every coach and manager will have a moment in the window where you are frustrated because you want to get players in so that you can work with them and give them time because I believe the culture here is set up to coach players to be better and improve, so the quicker we can get them in, then, of course, the quicker the improvements take place.
“But unfortunately, we’re not in total control of it. You’re always reliant on the other club as well and the other player, so sometimes you have to have that patience. It’s very difficult for supporters.
“It’s so hard because there’s so much you read, there’s so much you hear and probably as a Celtic supporter, you look at the team and you go ‘Wow, they’re playing so well and we can add the few that can really elevate it also’, then it can be a really really exciting season.
“But that’s exactly the same as my intention here as well, so it can be frustrating, but experience tells you that you have to be patient and judge it when the market closes.”
Celtic have no time to waste over the next week
If you were to poll Celtic supporters on where they would like to see business done, central defence, left back, midfield, the flanks, and potentially through the middle would all be pinpointed as areas that could use surgery.
The reigning Scottish Premiership champions have a week to conduct their business, can they realistically provide that level of reinforcements in a short space of time?
In the background, they have probably done plenty of legwork, but unless that translates to arrivals, you can’t blame supporters for making their feelings heard.
Rodgers has maintained a picture of calm throughout the summer, helped by his side’s positive start to the season. Hopefully, his patience can be rewarded and Celtic can equip themselves to juggle the pressure of another important campaign.
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