Brendan Rodgers has delivered a stinging criticism of Celtic’s failings in the transfer market.
So far Odsonne Edouard and Scott Bain have been the only transfer deals completed with both players on loan at Celtic last season.
With Stuart Armstrong, Erik Sviatchenko and Patrick Roberts all departing Celtic are in a weaker position for the Champions League qualifiers than they finished last season.
The long running John McGinn saga seems to have been the tipping point for Rodgers’ frustrations with the hoops boss making his feelings very clear in his media conference with newspapers ahead of the AEK Athens match.
The Herald reports the Celtic boss saying:
Q: If you stand still, it can be seen to go backwards.
BR: “Absolutely. 150%. I couldn’t agree more. We need to complete deals. It is as simple as that. One is identifying the players which we do and then get them over the line.”
Q: Regarding John McGinn, do you see why people would think the club should put money on the table and get the deal done?
BR: “150%. If you open your door to players in general and they have an opportunity to go through that door and have a look and see that there are other good clubs with facilities and are equal – and probably better – than what is here, then you risk the chance of them not coming back though the door. That is the gamble you take if you wait.”
Celtic are expected to complete the signing of Emilio Izaguirre on a one year deal today with the club also interested in re-signing Jason Denayer.