Brendan Rodgers will continue Celtic’s recruitment concentration in the markets that Ange Postecoglou opened up.
During his first transfer window the Australian brought Kyogo Furuhashi to Celtic with the striker instantly replacing the goals of Odsonne Edouard who left for Crystal Palace.
In January 2021 Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda hit the ground running to project Celtic towards winning the SPFL title and a return to the Champions League for the first time since Rodgers had previously been in charge of the club.
There has been mixed returns from Yuki Kobayashi and Tomoki Iwata, Yosuke Ideguchi has returned to Japan on loan but from Korea Oh Hyeon-gyu delivered seven goals as deputy to Kyogo after his January arrival.
Those signings have been key to the success Celtic have had, delivering outstanding value and opening the door to further signings from Japan and South Korea. Speaking to the Daily Record Rodgers is keen to continue the work that has started in those areas:
Over the course of our discussions I’ve seen the market we’re in and how well the recruitment has gone. Mark Lawwell has this pipeline of players that are available and I think what he’s done since he’s come in has been really impressive – and the markets he’s been able to tap into.
That will continue. That’s where the club is at. Listen, when you’ve got top players at the club they are always going to attract attention elsewhere.
Those boys have come in and done exceptionally well. Good players will always attract attention. But I don’t worry about that. As manager, you have knowledge of certain markets or knowledge that you might be able to get a player that’s just become available.
I know how I want the team to play. Celtic as a club is about offensive, aggressive, attacking football. What I am coming into is a team that’s playing that way. We’ll just look at adapting that and making changes.
In terms of recruitment I am the one that knows how I want the team to play and I have to be involved in those discussions. And I will be. Some of those markets haven’t been as readily available to some clubs, that’s something Mark has brought with him in his roles.
I’m thinking of the Japanese market, the Korean market, Australia and out into Asia. These were players that were untapped and you’re now seeing other clubs trying to tap into that
Next month Rodgers will take Celtic to Japan and South Korea for friendly matches that can only further help the club to bring in players from those areas.
Europe, the Champions League and the EPL seems to be the ultimate dream for many Asian players, Celtic may lose some of their current players but the success of Hatate, Maeda and Kyogo can open the door to further signings.
So if this is the case why are we getting mentioned as opening talks with Rob Holding for 8 million and Wilfred Ndidi for a minimum of 9 million. Both of whom are not worth a fraction of their asking price. BR likes to shop in the more expensive markets, maybe it is an ego thing. Makes him feel like a big time player. But waste the best part of 20 million maybe possible at Liverpool but for most other clubs, including Leicester, it is not. At Celtic it would mean selling top plyers to cover the waste. This is what you get with Rodgers.
Editor: It is very easy and lazy to link a new manager with going back to his old club for players. Let’s see who are signed.