Brendan Rodgers makes Dermot Desmond claim after being told to clarify Celtic transfer comments

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It was a January transfer window to forget, with the Celtic fans, Brendan Rodgers himself and the club just not getting what they want.

Where does the blame lie and who takes responsibility for the lack of action in the transfer market?

Brendan Rodgers has been clear for a while now, he wants better players brought in, but recently, he added that the club could be ‘braver’ in the transfer market.

When asked to clarify those comments, the Celtic boss praised Dermot Desmond and the board by stating they are ‘really clever’ people and it’s ’no slight’ on them, as he told BBC Radio Scotland (03/02/24 at 12:25 pm).

But the Irishman did also point out that Celtic need to sign ’next level’ players if the club wants to take that forward step.

Clearly, those players didn’t arrive in January, nor were they signed in the summer, another window that proved to be a disappointment.

Nonetheless, a reporter asked Brendan Rodgers to clarify and elaborate on his ‘be braver’ comments following the conclusion of the winter transfer window.

Celtic’s January transfer window

Reporter: “You said something quite interesting in your press conference yesterday where you said ‘we need to be braver’, in terms of the level of player we bring into the football club. Are you able to elaborate on what you meant by that? Do you mean you need to be braver or is there a certain type of player you want to bring in, but you aren’t allowed to bring in?”

Rodgers responded: “It’s just balance. Whenever you want to build a squad and when you want to progress, for me, it’s about bringing in players that can develop and improve.

“But also bringing in players that can be ready-made. That means you might have to spend a bit more money. It’s something I will always look to deliver here. If the players there to bring that would really enhance and maybe having one player, instead of four, and if that’s something that can help the squad, then that’s what I would like us to do in the future.

“The club have had great success here over many years. The club is run so well. The guys on the board, Dermot and all the rest of the boys. All the people. Really clever people and intelligent people. It’s no slight on them. What we want to do as a football club is able to progress, and for that progression, you want to be spending money on getting that next level of player in. If you have a few of them, then it takes you to the next level and that’s what we want to achieve.”

Celtic performances under Brendan Rodgers

Look, those players that would light up the sky might not be here, but that doesn’t mean the team should be dishing out such poor performances – Chris Sutton was critical of Joe Hart against Aberdeen.

Forget about the results for a minute, the performances itself are simply unacceptable and that’s been a constant theme for a while.

That falls on the head of Rodgers because, whilst he is unable to take the team to the next level in Europe, there shouldn’t be any excuses on the domestic stage.

And as the draw against Aberdeen proved, there is a clear gap in quality between what the fans want to see and what is being produced out on the pitch.