Chris Sutton has warned Celtic fans not to expect any ready made ‘marquee signings’.
With a £25m fee for Jota followed by a Stock Market announcement about higher than expected profits there has been an expectation that the £9m fee spent on Odsonne Edouard in 2018 will be surpassed.
So far there has been four signings in the £1-2m category with around £4.2m spent on Maik Nawrocki from Legia Warsaw last week.
There appears to be a pause on transfer speculation at the moment but with a month to go in the transfer window Celtic fans are expecting Rodgers to invest heavily to give his side a fighting chance in Europe.
Warning against unrealistic expectations in the Daily Record, Sutton said:
I get the demand from fans for a marquee signings but it was interesting seeing Rodgers’s comments about not to expect £10-15m arrivals as he’s sticking to the model. Listen, we sometimes don’t know a marquee signing until long after they have arrived.
Carter-Vickers and Jota were not marquee signings when they pitched up on loan – but they became ones when they turned those moves into permanent deals. It’s all very well sticking to the model, but we keep being told the club is financially well off and the talk is improvement in Europe.
I still think they need to add a couple if they are going to do that, and I’d be surprised if Rodgers didn’t feel the same.
We know he’s a coach and a developer, and we know he’ll be keen to work with this young squad but it’s also about improving the levels and I wouldn’t bet against some big moves in the coming weeks.
That last comment is the one most likely to be in line with the feelings of most Celtic supporters.
Ange’s first window ended withe the signing of GG and Jota and CCV on loan. Not a bad deadline day haul. Didn’t get Hatate, O’Riley and Maeda til the January window. If we are going to swing for the fences I expect a late result and even at that maybe a deal structured to spread the cost like obligation to buy next summer or a short term loan that turning a structured buy. Fingers crossed however I’d remind everyone that Ange needed an entire squad, BR has a successful squad minus Jota and Mooy. Hope we see the new Bhoys today v Wolves 😀 HH
Im more interested in quality than quntity….but I don’t expect us to spend big money on one player…If Rocky turns out to be as good as we think…Then tthat type of player …at that kind of momey will do for me.
I just keep thinking we need a ‘keeper now more than anything. If Big Joe was to get injured we’d struggle and if there’s ANY chance of getting Livakovic from D/Zagreb I’d go all out for him before anyone. It would be a costly transfer but I reckon it would make us strong enough just now, especially with Maik and Kwon coming into defence. I’d also be happy to let Carl Starfelt go now as I don’t think he’s Celtic quality; lacks concentration and makes too many unforced errors. There may be opportunities to use Welsh and/or Scales at the back too and see if they develop.
Can’t wait for KO today even tho’ it’s a friendly and moreso looking forward to flag day next week.
HH
FFS Brendan, I didn’t mean you had to do it starting today with the young guys! 🙂