Brendan Rodgers won’t be panicked in the transfer market.
So far it’s been slow progress for hoops fans with Odsonne Edouard’s arrival on a permanent deal the only notable transaction.
Celtic are well covered for strikers and midfielders but have a lack of options in defence, highlighted by the absences of Mikael Lustig and Dedryck Boyata on World Cup duty.
As Saturday’s friendly against Standard Liege demonstrated there is plenty of depth to the squad with Rodgers determined that any arrivals are likely to make an instant impact on his team.
????? BR: “We are very specific in terms of what we need in the squad. It’s not a huge overhaul. The players we want to bring in need to have certain qualities that can improve the squad.” #CELALA
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) July 17, 2018
????? BR: “There’s no point in me bringing in players who are just going to pad out the squad. We need quality and that’s something the club are very much aware of and we’ll work hard to get those players in.” #CELALA
More from the manager soon at https://t.co/00fJCijgWx
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) July 17, 2018
While there has been little movement in players coming in Erik Sviatchenko, Patrick Roberts and Stuart Armstrong have all moved on since the end of last season.
Those deals have virtually paid for Edouard’s transfer with Celtic able to draw on the profits from successive seasons in the Champions League group phase.
Celtic have had two bids for John McGinn rejected by Hibs with no indications that a third offer is on the way for the Scotland midfielder.