Transfers

Brendan Rodgers fires a subtle dig at Celtic player set to leave for West Ham United

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There was very little noise coming out of Celtic on transfer deadline day and it has frustrated the fans.

The big talking point was that striker department and how Celtic would replace Kyogo Furuhashi, after his exit to Rennes, but Brendan Rodgers didn’t get his wish.

A new number nine didn’t arrive, with Jeffrey Schlupp joining on deadline day from Crystal Palace, a wide player, who can also operate at left-back and the middle of the park.

That’s not what the doctor ordered because Celtic are now short up top, with Adam Idah the only senior number nine who can lead the line.

There is an even bigger issue with one of the players behind Idah because Daniel Cummings, who has been ripping it up in the younger age groups, can also play that role and was handed his debut in the Champions League against Aston Villa last week.

But he won’t be at Parkhead for much long, as everyone found out on deadline day.

Daniel Cummings set for West Ham United move

The 18-year-old is out of contract in the summer and it seems as though he has a pre-contract agreement on the table with the London club.

On transfer deadline day, Celtic rejected two bids for Cummings from West Ham, as reported by Sky Sports.

The Hammers then walked away and didn’t put in another bid, with Cummings not featuring in Celtic’s matchday squad at Motherwell over the weekend.

Daniel Cummings of Celtic B celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the UEFA Youth League 2024/25 match between Celtic FC and RB Leipzig at Lesser Hampden
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

Brendan Rodgers fires subtle dig at Cummings ahead of expected Celtic exit

This isn’t the first time Celtic are going to lose a young player, only in the summer, Rocco Vata departed the scene and joined Championship side, Watford.

Rodgers told BBC Radio Scotland that he isn’t frustrated with young players leaving, but warned them that you require ‘patience’ to make it at a club the size of Celtic.

The Irishman explained how certain young players have left in the past, but not reached the levels and added that a man like Callum McGregor is an example to them all.

“All the young players at Celtic have the best example you could ever have in Callum McGregor and of the other players,” said Rodgers.

“You have to be patient, you are at a Champions League and a massive club. So, patience is going to be important. If you don’t have that, then it’s going to take you elsewhere. People will look at the club. The pathway. The pathway is here for any top young player. It’s whether you have the patience enough and the demands professionally to cope with being here, if not, then your representatives may take the chance to move you on and pick up a few extra quid somewhere else.

“But maybe not make the career that the likes of Callum McGregor have had. I don’t get frustrated. I have seen it over many, many years. Many, many times, especially here at Celtic. Young players have left here and gone on. And I look now, four and five years later, and they are playing at a different level.”