Celtic Transfers 2024

Regarding a third striker.

"We could go into the market and maybe get a younger one from somewhere, but the reality is our priorities are elsewhere.”

 

This is straight up the worst window ever.

Nothing will be done that will improve it at this point, I do not see how Celtic suddenly go on a splurge and sign everything we need at LB, CB, O'Riley replacement, 3rd Striker, LW OR RW.

We will likely sign two loanees who we'll not be able to buy. And that is your lot

 

It's a joke we're now accepting we're not going to do what was required at the start of the window as we've cocked it up and left it so late again. What was it 2 weeks ago the manager was saying he wanted 3 strikers

 

I think as long as Kyogo stays and we bring in a winger; we’re sufficiently covered there (Kyogo, Idah and Maeda). If Rodgers is therefore prioritising a winger, I'm absolutely fine with it.

Someone like Bogusz or Kvistgaarden who can play a variety of positions would be an ideal signing.

 

Who's suggesting it's a magical upgrade? It was quite a simple deal to be made, with the relationship and the fact he was a free agent.

There are levels in this game though. Hart was a good keeper, a great keeper for us in fact. However, he wasn't good enough with the ball at his feet. Schmeichel is a massive level above Hart with the ball at his feet. Obviously, he's looked excellent in pre-season but he's had a simple start, in fairness but I don't think it's up for debate.

This is the problem with people. The club don't do enough and board are rightly being condemned by some on here for the lack of activity. Instead of saying 'The goalkeepers have been upgraded', which is pretty obvious in my opinion, you downplay it. It's near hun like.

You can simultaneously say, 'The club haven't done enough' and say 'We have upgraded the goalkeeping position' but it seems like any sort of positive moves the club make are going to be downplayed.

 

Plenty of us have been saying for ages we don't need to be going out signing a 3rd striker, definitely not a priority, Vata coming up from the B team (before he left obviously) or Maeda as 3rd choice has always made sense if we're only playing one up top, barring an injury crisis they're not really going to get minutes.

 

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has this afternoon confirmed his plans for the third-striker spot within his squad

The Parkhead boss was keen to give academy prospect Rocco Vata the role of being backup to Kyogo Furuhashi and Adam Idah but he thought the grass was greener at English Championship outfit Watford.

Rodgers then faced a dilemma over whether to delve into the market for someone to take the role Vata would have assumed, or to promote from within and utilise what he has. The Irishman has opted for the latter


Speaking at Lennoxtown today, the boss admitted that after his brace last weekend, Daizen Maeda will be the third-choice centre-forward for 2024/25.

Rodgers said the club could still recruit someone in said area, but that other positions have greater priority at the minute.

“He’s (Maeda) played for me as a striker”, he told CeltsAreHere.


With the two guys we have (Kyogo and Idah), I’m fairly comfortable that if I needed a third one, I can put him there and he’ll do the job.

“My feeling in the summer was probably more around a younger player. I wanted the younger player to be someone from within our academy, so that didn’t quite work out.

“We could go into the market and maybe get a younger one from somewhere, but the reality is our priorities are elsewhere

 

A few Celtic fans might have got worried when they saw Kyogo linked with a move to Manchester City. Can you enlighten us any more on that? Were you just as surprised as the fans were?

No, not surprised. He is a wonderful player and just obviously looking at all the links and the gossip this week, I thought I was preparing for a five-a-side game at the weekend. We are going to lose all these players. There is always going to be that speculation around, especially going into the last week of the transfer market. There is nothing new to add to any of that. The representatives get to work and they are going to create the speculation and see what comes from there. At this moment nothing new to add


Whether it be Kyogo or Matt or any player does there come a point where it becomes too late in the window to accept bids as it is too late to get a replacement? Do you have a cut-off point in your mind?

Yes. For any player, it is not going to go right down to the wire. We have got a big week next week after our game at the weekend. We will be preparing for our last game in this block of games. I wouldn't want that to be interrupted at all. We are pretty clear on where we are and what it is we need to do. Currently at this moment in time, I am happy with the squad both on a level of quality and we have seen that on the field and on a human level as I am privileged to work with this group. We have seen that over the games that we have played. However, if we want to improve as a club we will have to improve the squad and that is something that has been very clear for a while. I am sitting here with a great bunch of players and you see the level that they are playing at, you see how they are working and you see the improvement which is great and that's our job. However, after September and the international break, we will go into a really heavy schedule of games and for us to be competing in all competitions - domestically and not just participating but competing in the Champions League then we will have to do some work in the market.



Can you understand the frustrations of supporters with a week to go in the window that there has not been enough business done in the market? The club are in a strong financial position so what is the message to those fans who are beginning to get tetchy about new signings?

I totally understand. I totally get it. Their ideas are the same as mine. They want to improve. This is a football club with an incredible potential. For some players, we won't be the end game and we get that. It still doesn't mean that our benchmark is domestic football. We have got to have a high bar and our high bar that the club set is that they won the Champions League/European Cup in Europe. We are not just a team and I don't want us to be a club and a team that just participates, takes the money and comes back out and is just happy with domestic success. The benchmark for me is much higher than that. We want to be in there competing, fighting. We don't have the resources of a lot of them but we can certainly be in there to compete. Before that, you need to have improvement and that is what we want to do every single season. We want to improve



What is stopping that potential? What is the hold-up? With the money and prestige that you have at this club, why haven't there been more top-quality signings especially with time running out and a week to go?

I think sometimes you may miss players in the market that have gone. There is also availability and affordability. There are still players that we can get in here that will allow us to grow and develop. I don't want to go into it too much as we will be judged at the end of the market. Sometimes that is when things really wrap up in this final week. The players that we have brought in already I am very happy with. Kasper (Schmeichel), you can see how he has started his Celtic career. His stature, quality, everything. Adam and Paulo are players that you saw last year and that gives us the squad that we had. We want to improve and we have to improve. For a club of ambition and want to be better then that is something we need to look at





Is there enough time left to do business? You need to strengthen in multiple areas but you only have seven days to do what you want to do.

Time will tell. We have a big seven days ahead of us. I am confident we can do that. Sometimes it is waiting for the right player. The right player we might have seen and then he's gone or he might have decided to go somewhere else. It is okay. Sometimes that does take a bit of time. We will see come the end of the window where we are at. I have always been confident that we can improve the squad by then.

Is anything imminent?

Nothing at this moment, no





What's the transfer strategy like? Are you heavily involved now that Mark Lawwell and Joe have left?

We have got a recruitment team that works tirelessly over a number of months. I have said before that by the end of this window, we will have to look at that whole structure and set-up. The guys that are currently here have worked tirelessly on identifying targets and players that can fit into the model here. It is through no want of trying. Once those guys go through that list of players who fit into the profile of how we want to work that will then come to me to ratify the player that we would want and then that will go forward to the board to look to do the deal. That's how it works.





If the squad stays as it is just now, how many signings do you envisage you will need before next Friday's deadline?

I don't want to give you a number because you will come to me the next day and say you did not get the number. I know in my own mind and I am very clear and focused on what we need to do if we are going to improve. It's not as of nothing is happening. There is a lot of work going on and a lot of great work from the guys upstairs and the guys who are away from here analysing all the players. The work that is going on is tireless. I can assure you of that. It is just getting the right level of quality. What I don't want to bring in is players who just stiffen up our squad. We have already got that. We have players in here who are good players. If we are going to improve then we have to get another level of player to come in to add to that. That's the search. Sometimes those guys aren't always there at the beginning of the window because they have gone away with British, European or Asian teams for pre-season and then it is the latter part of the window when they get told if they are staying or going. That is sometimes why there is a delay and there is a mad rush in the last week. That's what we are hoping we can do and exploit that moment and bring in the players that we want.



There has been talk of Matt, Kyogo and Reo Hatate moving on. How important is it that several of your top players don't ship out next week?

I don't think it will be that. I am very aware from both times here that this is a club that has always attracted the interest of other clubs in other leagues that have more financial resources than ourselves. That will always be the case. If you look at a player that is playing for Celtic and doing really well then you know he is coping with pressure and winning every other week and he has a winning mentality. You also know he is playing at the highest level of European football. That is always a great benchmark for another team or club to see whether the player is going to be ready for their club or not. I don't think that will ever stop, especially at a club this size. We are also clear in the club that there is not a big push for us to move lots of players. Some will go because that's where we are at as a cub. There is no need to lose four or five players that are of real quality


You said last week that you wanted two number-one strikers. On the back of that, I take it you would not entertain any interest in Kyogo?

Not really, no. Naturally, it comes and we just deal with it. There's been nothing from Man City. It is rumour and gossip. Most importantly for me, he is now back feeling comfortable and on the grass and he's been brilliant in training during the last couple of days and he'll be available for the weekend.

A link like that is pretty extraordinary. Have you spoken to Kyogo about that?

I haven't spoken to him directly on that. If I was speaking to every player about gossip and speculation then I would be working 24 hours a day. It's of no interest to me and my focus is very much on Celtic and preparing the team for the weekend. That's what we've been clear on. Gossip and speculation are normally based on players who are doing well. That will come. My focus is elsewhere.




Does next week determine whether you will be in the Champions League competing and taking you to the next level of reaching the knockout round?

That's the plan. When we won the league last season my plan was to come into this new format and see if we can break this barrier of coming through the play-off stages and into the knockout phase. That is the challenge. I knew what we needed in order to do that. That is still very much in our plan. This club for the last number of years have played very well in games and we haven't been able to take that next step. In order to do that as a manager and coach you know the improvements that you have to make. Last year we were close in a lot of the games and we want to develop that and move forward. I know what we need in order to do that so let's hope that we can.



How do you balance your ambition with frustration if you miss out on players?

I’ve been here before. I can manage it better now. That doesn’t mean it makes me any less ambitious. This is the club that I want to be at and I want to do the very best because I represent the supporters, to drive the team and move forward. Every coach or manager will have a moment in the window where they’re frustrated because you want to get players in so you can work with them and give them time. I believe that the culture here is set up to coach players to be better and improve. The quicker we can get them in, then the quicker the improvements take place. Unfortunately, we’re not in total control of it, you’re always reliant on the other clubs as well. Sometimes you have to have that patience. It’s very difficult for supporters and it’s so hard because there’s so much you read and hear. As a Celtic supporter, you may look at the team and go ‘Wow, they’re playing so well and if we can add the few that can really elevate that then it can be a really exciting season’. That is my intention here as well. It can be frustrating but experience tells you that you have to be patient and wait and judge it when the market closes


The average supporter is saying to spend a little bit more money. Is it as simple as that with fees and wages?

Well, it’s not as simple as that but it is something that does help. You can’t question that. Listen, we would all love to buy a player for £1 million or £1.5 million then move him for £30-35 million - every club would love to do that. The game will tell you that sometimes you have to pay a little bit more to gain that extra bit of quality that is needed. That’s not to say that you can’t get players like Matt O’Riley, but it doesn’t happen a lot. I think if you’re always in that bracket, then the reality is you have more misses than you have hits. That’s the reality, especially with Celtic. This is a huge club, a massive club. If it was in a different league then this thing would absolutely take off. Where we are and the league we are in, it’s still a draw. This is an iconic club and we’re ambitious to be the very best that we can be here. So for that - and we have resources - we can get that level of player that can help us. I’m not one that says “only £8 million signings will succeed” and the ones that are only £1-2 million don’t. I’ve been around it long enough and seen it long enough to understand where we’re at and what it takes to get that extra little bit - you have to pay for that. That’s something I’ll continually push for.



Can Celtic’s reputation of being a cash-rich club hinder them during negotiations? Is that a feature of the transfer market?

It can happen. I go back to what I’ve said about some of our players - it’s about value and worth. If we have a value on a player and we see that value to be a certain price, then we’re strong enough to stay with that price. For a lot of people in this line, it’s very much business and we’ve got people here who have got great business minds - that’s why they’ve been successful. I come from a football mind where I want the best football team on the pitch because that’s the bottom line. The bottom line is the team getting the best team on the pitch, so the supporters can see that and be excited about that. I think the business side of that - there are always negotiations and then teams come to an agreement. Then both teams win - hopefully!

 

For * sake, wouldn’t like to see how long it would take to buy a LB and CB if it wasn’t a “priority”

 

In the wise words of Elvis Presley

A little less conversation a little more action please.

 

Nowhere near being Hun like to not be on a bandwagon that claims Kasper is levels above Hart.

Both are (was) in their twilight years, both former epl great keepers.

Neither is being downplayed on my part.
Hart not good with his feet is a bit of a myth at times though. Pep claimed he wasn't what he wanted, which is fine, but there is levels of being good enough for Pep with the ball at your feet and the ability to go and sign better, then there is the level we operate at. Which, he was absolutely fine for.

I'd rate them on a par, til I see more of Kasper to prove otherwise.

So, forgive me for not giving the club credit for having to utilise Rodgers contact to bring in an equal (potentially better) keeper option, just for us to stand still.



Sent from my M2012K11AG using Tapatalk

 

Some of the dead wood in the squad is starting to move. Makes me feel a wee bit more positive

 

Rodgers and McGregor’s comments just cement the fact this is going to be another window of standing still at best.

A * farce.

I don’t care if we’ve started the season well or not, the supporters need to make their voices heard against the board.

This is extreme levels of incompetence being displayed again by the board.

All the money in the world, a top manager and champions league football yet they fail to improve the squad.

Don’t blame the scouting department. Blame the * that hired them.

 

As much as I agree we have other far more pressing areas we need to improve it's another example of us not giving the manager the tools required after him stating he wants 3 strikers.

 

Callum McGregor



There’s been speculation surrounding a few players potentially leaving. Is that something that has an impact on the squad at all?

It’s something we can’t control, really. As players, we have a good group and even the guys that are linked away are still training and are happy. They’re good people and treat others with respect. That’s all we can ask for as a group of players - that we treat each other with respect - and that when we get onto the training pitch we train as hard as we can to try and give the maximum that we can. Anything else is out of our control, really.



With the great start to the season, it isn’t unfair to say the frustration from supporters has been the lack of transfers into the club. What would be your message to those fans who are getting a little bit tetchy with a week to go - and want to see the club doing more in the window?

I think everybody wants the club to keep moving forward. The one thing we know about modern-day transfer windows is that it is tough to get business done - especially when everyone sees that you’re cash-rich and prices get inflated. It’s just patience and we’ve got to trust the guys upstairs to make the right calls to make the business happen that everybody wants to happen. As players, we don’t get involved too much. We try and train as hard as we can and when we come to the pitch we try to give the supporters what they want.

 

Id * hate it being this close to the deadline as manager and not have a clue if the type of players I wanted were going to be signed.

It feels like ground hog transfer times.

I think Ange new how it worked here and Rodgers should know better, we for the most part can't or wont sign the players and pay the wages that rodgers thinks we should buy for him.

Ange knew the Japanese market got some of the best players from over there that we could get and could afford, Rodgers relies on others to source these players and we haven't the guys to reliably do it.
I hope I'm wrong

 

Doesn't seem like any position is a requirement this window.