Chris Sutton believes Liel Abada can be a big player for Celtic this season after Brendan Rodgers revealed he wants to stay at the Bhoys and improve his game.
Abada had been linked with an exit from the club for months prior to Rodgers’ arrival with some reports indicating he hadn’t been keen to renew his contract at Celtic Park.
However, the Celtic manager has indicated the Israeli international will be sticking around and be a key part of his plans moving forward, if he continues showing the form that has marked him out as an effective attacker.
Sutton likes that, writing in his Daily Record column: “Rodgers revealing Liel Abada wants to stay is a big one as well. It was slightly strange last season how he ended up spending a lot of time on the bench – especially as he matched his numbers from his first season with about half the minutes on the pitch. He could be a big player under Rodgers too.”
Abada has scored 28 goals in his first two campaigns with Celtic and if he can hit similar numbers this term, or improve on his contribution, then he’ll very much be earning his keep in Glasgow.
Sutton eyeing Celtic transfers
The outspoken pundit has also predicted Celtic to make some big moves in the transfer market over the next few weeks, believing they are just getting started on that business after moves for Odin Thiago Holm, Marco Tilio, Hyunjun Yang and Hyeokkyu Kwon.
Sutton continued: “I get the demand from fans for a marquee signing but it was interesting seeing Rodgers’ comments about not expecting £10-15m arrivals as he’s sticking to the model. Listen, we sometimes don’t know a marquee signing until long after they have arrived.
“Carter-Vickers and Jota were not marquee signings when they pitched up on loan – but they became ones when they turned those moves into permanent deals. It’s all very well sticking to the model, but we keep being told the club is financially well off and the talk is improvement in Europe.
“I still think they need to add a couple if they are going to do that, and I’d be surprised if Rodgers didn’t feel the same. We know he’s a coach and a developer, and we know he’ll be keen to work with this young squad. But it’s also about improving the levels and I wouldn’t bet against some big moves in the coming weeks. Rangers have done a lot of their business but there’s a feeling Celtic haven’t had the same need and are only really just getting started.”
With just a few weeks to go until the end of the transfer window, it will hopefully be a busy time for the Bhoys on the transfer front. Most Celtic fans will be feeling similarly to Sutton – that we need a few signings to really help us kick on to the next level.
Who they may be is very much unknown. Transfer rumours are thin on the ground at the moment but that doesn’t mean the club aren’t working on stuff and progressing deals. We’d all love to hear of potential incomings soon!
In other news, Big profit: Celtic tipped to double or triple their money on new signing.
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