Former Bhoy says Brendan Rodgers and Celtic transfer disconnect has now been fixed

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Former Celtic striker Andy Walker has weighed in on Brendan Rodgers’ comments on Celtic’s transfer policy at Wednesday’s AGM.

Rodgers stated that no players have been pushed onto him during his second spell at the club after concerns were raised at the AGM.

Despite some Celtic supporters being frustrated with a lack of big-name signings, Rodgers was clear that he has the final say on who the Hoops sign. However, he also made it clear that he works with the club’s scouting department, headed by Mark Lawwell, in scouting potential signings.

This is a significant shift from Rodgers’ first spell at the club, where the Irishman all but denied any knowledge around the signing of Ukrainian winger Marian Shved. This appeared to indicate that, at the time, the club’s transfer scouting system was not running as effectively as it seems to be now, based on Rodgers’ recent comments.

Rodgers’ comments can only be seen as positive, and in his five months back at Celtic, it is clear that he has been able to strengthen relationships with the club’s hierarchy, particularly with Michael Nicholson and Peter Lawwell. Celtic is aware of how Rodgers likes to work from his previous spell at the club in scouting and signing players, and this has enabled both parties to collaborate more effectively in recruiting players.

With January likely to be a significant month for both signing players and trimming the squad without outgoings, Rodgers’ improved working relationship is crucial in improving the quality in the current Celtic squad.

Walker said: [The Go Radio Football Show], “It’s the way it should be, it’s maybe not always been that way, which led to the breakup of that relationship some years ago.

“I think that Brendan Rodgers has obviously got a very clear view of what he wants: to trim the squad to get more quality. The big problem is to try and improve results. You see how much teams are spending in the Champions League. That’s why I’ve always said I don’t think Celtic are interested in spending £10 million or even on a player to improve their performances in the Champions League. It looks as though they just want to be ahead of Rangers domestically.

“The big thing that Celtic fans want to see is just an improvement in European results. It’s the one glaring omission from Celtic over the last number of years. They have been remarkably successful, but nowhere near it on a European stage, and that’s a big downer for all the fans.”

Walker highlights that the previous situation over recruiting players ultimately played a part in Rodgers’ departure for Leicester City in 2019. He also feels that Celtic have become content with domestic success, meaning that they are unwilling to splash out on expensive signings in an attempt to achieve success in Europe.

Walker’s comments echo a sentiment from some supporters who believe that if Celtic are to progress in European football, they must spend more on players. However, this does not highlight the effect that this would have on current squad harmony. If Celtic were to spend £10 million on a new signing, they would likely also demand a higher wage than the current squad, ultimately leading to a number of players requesting increased wages. This, in turn, affects squad harmony and cohesion.

The solution appears to be finding a middle ground in spending more on players but not at the level of £10 million signings. Players in the region of £5 to £7 million pounds seem to offer the greatest value, as demonstrated by both Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers, who signed for around £6 million each after successful loan spells at the club.