Three squad areas where Brendan Rodgers could look to bolster the ranks at Celtic this summer

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers will have transfer activity on his mind as the campaign nears its conclusion at Parkhead.

Clinching Scottish Premiership glory has guaranteed the Hoops automatic entry to the new Champions League format, making the club an attractive proposition for prospective new arrivals.

Of course, there is still also the Scottish Cup final to come this weekend against Rangers, offering up the chance of a domestic double.

Once the showpiece occasion is over, everyone associated with Celtic will enjoy a well-deserved break; however, there will be no break here at 67 Hail Hail as the transfer window looms.

With that in mind, here are three areas of the squad that Rodgers could look to strengthen once the market opens for business.

Celtic’s goalkeeper pursuit is up and running

In the least surprising news of the year, Celtic are after a goalkeeper this summer amid Joe Hart’s impending retirement from professional football.

Now, in the final week of his playing career, attention has already swung towards Rodgers identifying a suitable successor, with plenty of names mentioned as potential candidates to fill the void.

Wolfsburg stopper Koen Casteels has emerged as a serious target for Celtic amid his availability on a free transfer this summer. Anderlecht have held talks with the Belgium international, who has previously been compared to Bayern Munich great Manuel Neuer by Mark van Bommel.

Aston Villa’s Viljami Sinisalo is also said to be on the radar; meanwhile, Burnley’s Arijanet Muric, Sunderland talent Anthony Patterson and Queens Park Rangers veteran Asmir Begovic have all been floated over recent weeks.

Hart is going to be sorely missed around the Celtic dressing room, making the pursuit of a high-calibre alternative a major priority for Rodgers and club chiefs.

Greg Taylor cannot continue to be the only senior Celtic left-back

Barring a calf strain that ruled him out earlier this year, Greg Taylor has been a virtual ever-present for Celtic this season, racking up three goals and five assists in 43 appearances across all competitions [Transfermarkt].

In his absence, Alexandro Bernabei had a brief opportunity to shine; nevertheless, he is now on loan at Internacional, leaving the Scotland international as the Hoops’ sole left-back with quantifiable senior experience.

Fan frustration was widespread in the January transfer window when Celtic failed to acquire additional depth in the role despite well-publicised links with Owen Beck, Tiago Araujo and Hugo Bueno, among others.

Taylor has been an excellent asset since joining from Kilmarnock back in 2019. Regardless, competition for places is healthy, and the reigning champions need reinforcements on the left-hand side of their backline.

The Celtic striker dilemma Brendan Rodgers has to solve

Since arriving in Scotland, Celtic loanee Adam Idah has surprised everyone, scoring eight times and recording two assists across 18 outings. Memorably, he has conjured up some season-defining moments, including doubles at Easter Road, Fir Park and a stunning strike against Rangers at Ibrox last month.

According to claims earlier this month, Norwich City are believed to want £5 million for the Republic of Ireland international. Either way, there is no information regarding negotiations in the public domain, and Rodgers has already confirmed a decision is set to be made at the end of the season.

Plenty of alternatives will also come to light for Celtic. Aberdeen poacher Bojan Miovski and Brondby star Mathias Kvistgaarden were on the agenda in January. Will Rodgers stick to familiar targets or push the boat out? For now, it is too soon to say.

Kyogo Furuhashi is a fantastic option to lead the line; nevertheless, he can’t do it all himself, and there is plenty of evidence to suggest Idah’s arrival has taken some of the attacking burden from the Japan international’s shoulders.

Celtic are set for an exciting summer, and supporters will be anticipating a captivating transfer window to prepare the club to fight on all fronts in 2024/25.