Brendan Rodgers has opened up on the difficulties he faces in the transfer market.
By all metrics Celtic are cash rich with the club recently informing the Stock Market of higher than expected profits.
On top of a domestic treble opening up all sorts of commercial bonuses the money was piling in from four visits to Hampden on top of the January transfer surplus from selling Giorgos Giakoumakis and Josip Juranovic.
With the unexpected sale of Jota to Al Ittihad the funds are literally piling up but regardless of how much money they have there is a very limited type of player that they can bring in.
Four prospects from South Korea, Australia and Norway probably totalled around £6m in transfer fees with Maik Nawrocki nudging the spending just over £10m.
Those deals were all affordable, carry little risk with the reality being that outstanding form is likely to attract the sort of offers that tempted Jota, Juranovic and Gioakoumakis away from Celtic.
Even with the carrot of the Champions League the reality of playing in the SPFL is one that most players can resist as they look for a pathway into one of the five rich leagues
Explaining his transfer puzzle, Rodgers told The Sun:
I don’t think it’s a great secret in terms of the model here and where it’s at. Economically, it can be very tough for a club like ours to compete. That’s something I had to have in my mindset myself to come back.
It’s not changed, as such, but the last time I probably thought we would win the Champions League! I’m a realist and I understand the model.
This is an amazing place to play and work, yet there will be times after a few years where players move on — but we’ve seen there’s a great pipeline for players to come in. At this moment in time, there’s nothing.
Tonight, with less than four weeks to run in the transfer window there doesn’t seem to be any deals in the pipeline suggesting that any further business will only open up in the final days of the window.
With Pittodrie and Ibrox to be visited in the first month of the season the strength of the Celtic squad will quickly be tested.
With an estimated £30m transfer kitty & the funds from Jota we should be spending wisely on players that can come in straight away & play. To not spend big before the UEFA CL would be a travesty. We need to look for European football post Christmas & winning the SPFL comfortably. Now is not the time to rest on our laurels in a financial sense. We have the financial muscle to get out of sight of the Scum so let’s use it!
Hes right spl anchor the same vote as clubs with under 10,000 and less fans disgrace
Welcome back Peter, your influence runs deep.
I agree with KC67. As soon as that man Lawwell comes back into Celtic, the transfer business in any meaningful way dries up. Ange had his targets lined up and in place two weeks into the closed season. All we have thus far with Brendan Rodgers is a Polish defender, the others being projects chosen before he arrived. We’re back to the old biscuit tin mentality, I’m afraid. But what surprises me is that Brendan Rodgers is buying into that. He has something to prove to many doubting fans and this is not a good way to start. Maybe a few hammerings at the higher level will force more urgency into the situation. I’m greatly disappointed so far.
Pittodrie will be a test in football, Ibrox a test in forBEARance of officialdom. I can’t be bothered with talk of ‘marquee’ signings, these are more for show. For now the attraction of Scotland to young/good players is, frankly, Celtic. Winning medals, playing in Europe, a decent wage, work permits and the proximity to the English border. That’s the reality, for now.
I hate to say it, given the history, but we won’t be winning the Champions’ League this year. If we don’t embarrass ourselves (e.g. Alan Shearer Testimonial), the club can build on its experience and learnings for the long-term aim, which is to be a feared force with an exemplary support in Europe.
To show BR means business,
and to convince any lingering doubts from the support about his return,
we should go out and by that ‘marquee’ signing.
Pushing the boat out for a hungry, young, quality keeper could do the trick?
[Even one on loan, with a purchase option, would make a statement.]
…and it could satisfy the support that Peter Lawwell doesn’t rule the roost…?
BR is shrewd, and making all the right noises in the media.
But, the above transfer action could confirm to the support
that things have indeed changed – for the better – in the background at CFC?
Strengthening the squad to make an impact in Europe,
naturally includes strengthening our goalkeeping options.
We have a solid team, has everyone lost their marbles over this marquee signing. Yes, we have lost Jota the same as we did with jacko and josip, anyone like to tell me they weren’t excellent players also. We might not have got the money that we did for Jota but no-one was in melt down about it. Hype caused by the usual suspects seems to everyone in a tissy. New season begins today and as a well oiled celtic team I can’t wait