Brendan Rodgers made a telling point in his post-Scottish Cup final interview last weekend.
Celtic lost to Aberdeen on penalties and Rodgers was asked after the game if he now knows, having watched his team’s Hampden display, what he needs in the summer transfer window.
The Hoops manager says he has “a really good idea” of the positions he needs to strengthen, and one of those is expected to be the striker spot.
Celtic will also need a new left-back if both Greg Taylor and Jeffrey Schlupp’s long term futures lie away from Parkhead.
But pundit Marvin Bartley has put his neck on the line by stating the position Rodgers is very likely not going to target this summer, unless one of his key players leaves.
- READ MORE: Goalkeeper who was tipped to replace Joe Hart at Celtic is now mooted for a £40m transfer
Marvin Bartley says Celtic won’t strengthen in central defence
Bartley was speaking on the latest Clyde 1 Superscoreboard radio show with host Andrew Maclean and responded to a caller’s point about Celtic needing to strengthen in central defence.
The Hoops currently have Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty and Liam Scales in that area of the park, with young Dane Murray waiting in the wings.
As a result, Bartley can’t see Rodgers having the appetite to spend big money on that position.
Bartley: “I get it when people talk about bringing in another centre-half, but I do think it’s going to be a project centre-half. Somebody who has been given the opportunity to step up a level.”
Maclean: “Do you still think it will be Scales or Trusty alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers next season?”
Bartley: “I think this next person could put pressure on those two (Trusty and Scales) but I don’t think they’ll be spending another £6.5m to £7m on another centre-half when they’ve got Trusty and Cameron Carter-Vickers in those positions.
“I don’t think it will happen unless a centre-half is to leave the football club. He definitely will try and bolster the squad, but I don’t think he’ll bring in the players Laurie (caller) is talking about.”
Celtic’s most expensive signings of all time
Given Celtic have around £65.4m in the bank at the moment, there’s no doubt Rodgers will be given a hefty transfer budget for the summer.
The Celtic boss will enter into his final year on his contract and if he has plans to leave in 2026, he will want to do his all with the squad next season, especially in Europe.
The Hoops often buy low and sell big to great success, but in recent years, they have started to splurge a little more lavishly than once expected.
In fact, eight of Celtic’s most expensive incoming transfers ever were conducted within the last seven years, and they include Carter-Vickers and Trusty, both for £6m.
Two of their top three most expensive signings are strikers in Odsonne Edouard and Adam Idah for £8m and £9.5m respectively.
A similar sum of money could be shelled out on a centre forward this summer with the likes of Mathias Kvistgaarden and David Strelec heavily linked.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
