Celtic were linked with players far and wide during the summer transfer window, but it was always clear that Brendan Rodgers was only prepared to pursue real quality.
For many fans, trading moved far too slowly during the off-season. This was even admitted by Rodgers towards the end of the window.
In the end, Celtic brought eight players to the club. Over £30m was paid out, and the incoming transfer record was broken twice, according to chairman Peter Lawwell.
Another who could have arrived at Celtic was Facundo Buonanotte. The Brighton talent, currently on loan at Leicester, was a player the Bhoys were said to have been contenders for having caught the eye of recruitment staff.
His start to the season and recent comments from manager Steve Cooper suggest he was exactly the kind of performer Rodgers should have been pursuing.
Summer Celtic target Facundo Buonanotte impressing at elite level
The Argentinian attacking midfielder is looking sharp at the start of the English Premier League season. He now has two goals and two assists in six matches, including the winner for Leicester in a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth on Saturday.
Cooper’s verdict is glowing, telling the BBC: “He’s a really talented young guy, I wish he was ours. I’ve worked with a lot of players his age and you really need to manage the programme, when they start games and when they don’t.
“He’s a brave player, in a good way he’s an aggressive player and he wants to take risks and make things happen and obviously he certainly did that today with the goal.
“We are really enjoying working with him and taking responsibility for his development for a year but he is grasping the opportunity as well which is the most important thing.”
He’d have fit the bill at the Bhoys, too, and it’ll be interesting to keep an eye on his progress as the season develops.
Celtic must keep the bar high on transfers
Celtic aren’t going to come out on top in player chases every time, but the pursuit of standouts such as Buonanotte and the completed deal for Arne Engels demonstrate that they are embarking on a more exciting transfer cycle.
Rodgers has ushered in a fresh approach to signings, looking to spend serious money on young talents who can still fit the remit of improving and being sold for profit but, crucially, can immediately make an impact in the Celtic team.
That comes with increased risk and requires even smarter scouting, but Celtic should not shy away from the challenge.
The Bhoys must pitch themselves as an elite destination for young players to earn regular minutes at, and ultimately improve until they are ready for greater riches.
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