Brendan Rodgers identifies one key reason Celtic transfers could be delayed but boss offers confident update

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Celtic have been busy behind the scenes in pushing for January signings.

Brendan Rodgers is confident of bringing in new faces this window with the boss hoping for attacking acquisitions as he lines up two wingers for Celtic and possibly a new striker.

Raul Moro was one linked with Celts this week but the Spaniard was stretchered off with an injury for Real Valladolid, putting an end to any chance of a move this month.

Others have been mentioned as alternatives including Michel-Ange Balikwisha while Mohamed Bayo is a Celtic striker option as is Mathias Kvistgaarden who was scouted in person back in November.

Rodgers believes Celtic will make signings this window as he remains hopeful of getting some deals over the line including the return of Kieran Tierney.

• READ MORE: Celtic ‘make it difficult’ for club transfer, Hoops target stretchered off, Alex Valle deal close – January bulletin

Brendan Rodgers is ‘confident’ of Celtic January transfers

And asked if he felt the club were “on track” to add new bodies, the manager was optimistic.

“Yes, I would hope so, yes,” said Rodgers.

“There’s been lots of work going on for a number of months, but as you can imagine, it’s never as simple when you actually then get to the point of getting the player that you want, because there’s various reasons why his club would want to maybe keep them.

“But I’m fairly confident by the end, we can add that extra freshness and competition to the squad.”

The Champions League‘s revamped League Phase is ongoing with Young Boys and Aston Villa to come for Celtic who hope to make the knockout playoff this year.

And Rodgers believes the competition could be to blame for clubs refusing to sell their players which has caused a “delay” in business taking place.

How the Champions League has affected transfer business

“Yes, I think it does,” he added.

“I think with the extra added games, and obviously remembering as well, if you sign players that can’t play in the Champions League, so you’re then working with the players that you have currently within your squad.

“And thankfully for us, touch wood, we don’t have the injuries that maybe if another team has lots of injuries, then even more so why they would want to keep players back.

“So, you just have to be patient. You’d always want to have a player in the very first day, but if it can’t be the case, then somewhere along the January period, we would hope to get them in then.”