The transfer window is firmly on the mind of every Celtic fan as they await late business following a quiet month of market activity.
Nicolas Kuhn has been the only arrival at Parkhead in January from Rapid Vienna. It remains to be seen whether any other incomings will join him before the close of play.
Recently, Brendan Rodgers revealed that Greg Taylor is set for a spell on the sidelines due to a calf strain sustained against Buckie Thistle.
Feasibly, this could prompt the Irishman to look for cover in the left-back position before the window slams shut, with Liam Scales, Alexandro Bernabei, and Mitchel Frame being the only alternatives.
Bringing in a striker is also considered a priority; however, there is no clear indication of who the Hoops could acquire despite several loan options being considered by recruitment chiefs [Daily Record].
Since arriving at Parkhead last summer, Rodgers has repeatedly emphasised the need for ‘quality’ additions. Nevertheless, he has also stressed that being able to carry out efficient business in the month of January is ‘not easy’ to achieve [Glasgow Times].
Brendan Rodgers discusses Celtic’s transfer strategy
Celtic have been known to buy players for modest fees in the transfer market with the eventual aim of making significant profits on those sold in the future.
Of course, this can have a varying degree of success; however, despite considerable money coming into the club through player sales, the Hoops have never broken their transfer record of shelling out £9 million on Osdonne Edouard back in 2018.
Opening up on his side’s recruitment strategy, Rodgers has admitted that his desire is to bring the best calibre of player possible to Glasgow, though he won’t look to bring in any individual just for the sake of it.
He stated [Daily Record]: “The board guys run the club and the finances and run it very well. My demand will always be to get the very best players that we possibly can. And if there are ones who aren’t better than we already have, I don’t see the point in bringing them in.”
Rodgers on how much he would pay for one player at Celtic
The Irishman was then asked if he would be willing to spend a significant chunk of the Bhoys’ finances on a sole arrival, to which he replied: “No. It’s very difficult. The money’s there, but that won’t happen. If you’re bringing in a £20m player, then you’re taking a £20m player’s wages. That doesn’t work here sadly. We’re not in that ball park.”
Following that, the 51-year-old finished by offering a more realistic figure he could be willing to spend on a solitary player, as he said: “That (£6m-£7m ) is realistic. I think we’ve done that. This isn’t new. You look before when they signed Carter-Vickers or Jota for £6m-£7m. The evidence is there that they do that. But £20m?”
Celtic’s need for quality additions is becoming more apparent
In the coming windows, there could be a mini-rebuild needed at Celtic as other clubs will be keen to put their squad cycle to the test.
Matt O’Riley has been subject to interest from La Liga giants Atletico Madrid this month and it seems like the summer may be the optimal time for both parties to go their separate ways.
The Denmark international isn’t alone in having admirers from elsewhere, with Cameron Carter-Vickers said to be a target for Nottingham Forest, West Ham United and Brentford.
Veteran goalkeeper Joe Hart could also leave come the summer when his contract expires, which could potentially leave Rodgers without three critical first-team players heading into next term.
Recruiting effectively in these areas will be crucial ahead of 2024/25 and Celtic should already be planning in advance for all possible scenarios.
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