Celtic are expected to be busy ahead of the January transfer window re-opening and a striker is on the agenda.
Brendan Rodgers is in a strong position domestically and in the Champions League, so there are exciting times for the fans.
Celtic’s transfer business has been interesting on occasions because the results haven’t always been visible straight away.
At times, it has resulted in supporters perhaps being impatient and questioning the powers that be for the players they are bringing in.
Nicolas Kuhn’s rise is a prime example because, when he first joined, many were questioning his qualities, but fast forward to the present and he is perhaps the first name on the teamsheet.
Could the same happen with Celtic and loaned-out star Johnny Kenny at Shamrock Rovers?
Johnny Kenny praised amid Celtic striker talk
Kyogo Furuhashi and Adam Idah are the two men currently leading the line for Celtic, but it seems as though Rodgers wants more.
Rodgers wants more firepower and a third striker, with Scott Allan highlighting the work Kenny is doing with Shamrock Rovers.
Allan stated that Kenny has ‘done well’ in the Europa Conference League amid talk of a third striker coming in, as he told Sportscene.
“Yeah, of course (frightening if Celtic add more firepower in January),” agreed Allan. “Kyogo, Idah and Kuhn. All the guys we mentioned.
“I think Johnny Kenny as well, who has done well at Shamrock Rovers and done well in the Conference League. They have got so many options and they are players who aren’t even in the side, at the moment.”
Johnny Kenny’s stats for Shamrock Rovers amid Rodgers’ comments
The good news for someone like Kenny is that Rodgers is demanding and wants more firepower added to his squad.
The Celtic boss highlighted the signings of Kuhn and Idah last January and now they are key players for the club.
“We need more,” Rodgers told BBC Sportsound about his forward line. It’s not just for now it’s for our future so we always look to add to our attacking intent.
“Especially January always gives you the opportunity to do that and I think being able to add goal threats to the team is important.
“We did it last January with Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah came in and made a big difference for us. Especially Adam at that time was a real catalyst for us. So I always think adding goals and creativity and that’s something that hopefully we’ll be able to do in January.”
It seems as though Rodgers isn’t looking for the here and now, so it further helps Kenny’s cause to be that other guy to come in – he will return next month to be looked at, but it’s not guaranteed he stays for the rest of the campaign.
Shamrock Rovers are heading towards the knockout stages of the Europa Conference League – they face Molde in a two-legged affair in February – something Hearts failed to do after they crashed out at the group stages.
As posted by Transfermarkt, Kenny has scored an impressive five goals in Europe, after netting 13 in the league during the season before.
| Competition | Apps | Goals | Assists | Minutes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Conference League | 6 | 5 | 1 | 476′ |
 | Champions League Qu. | 3 | 2 | – | 170′ |
| Total 2025: | 9 | 7 | 1 | 646′ | |
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