Brendan Rodgers unsure if Celtic transfers will arrive before £40m Champions League D-Day

Brendan Rodgers unsure if Celtic transfers will arrive before £40m Champions League D-Day

The Hoops will face either Kairat Almaty or Slovan Bratislava in the £40million playoff

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers (Image: SNS Group)

Brendan Rodgers admits he’s in the dark over whether reinforcements will arrive before Celtic’s Champions League D-Day.

‌

The Hoops have until Thursday, August 14 to submit their initial squad for the £40million blockbuster against either Kairat Almaty or Slovan Bratislava.

‌

Two players can still be added up until the night before their first leg at Parkhead a week on Wednesday.

‌

But Rodgers desperate for more firepower now – with a striker and two new wingers high on the agenda.

And he confessed he’s unsure whether fresh faces will arrive before the crunch qualifier.

He said: "I really don't know. I really don't know. That's my honest answer.

Article continues below

"So, we just have to keep working to look to get the players in and in the meantime, work with the players that are here to make them the best that they can be."

Fans are up in arms that key players Kyogo and Nicolas Kuhn have yet to be replaced so far into the summer.

Rodgers admits it's a complicated answer as he said: "I just think that there are many things that go into it.

‌

"I don't do the deals, so I can't answer that for you. But I know that behind the scenes, there's a lot of work, there's a lot of discussions that go on to conclude deals.

"I'm hopeful that come the end of this window we will have those deals concluded and we get the players in that that can help us go forward.

"The focus right now from myself is to make sure that the players that are here are in the best possible condition, mindset to play the games. That's where we're at."

‌

Celtic have had multiple bids knocked back for Go Ahead Eagles playmaker Jakob Breum, while Royal Antwerp wide man Michel Ange Balikwisha has been a long-term target.

Rodgers said: "I think the board have shown over many years, numbers of years, that the work will get done. And obviously as a group that run the club and have run it so well for so many years, they have to get what they feel is the best value for the players.

"Of course, as coaches and managers and supporters, you want the best players. But ultimately the club will be run in a way that makes sure that both the best players and the best value is there to be made.

‌

"That sits above me. That's something that clearly does. I think we support what's here at the moment. If you look at last season, we were a couple of penalty kicks away from having a fantastic season, both domestically and in Europe.

"This summer, of course, we want to improve the squad and the board will want to improve the squad as well. I'm very hopeful that we can do that.

"I can't afford to get bogged down in it. We know what we need. And then I also have to ensure that the players that are here are fit and attitudes, ready to play how we want to play.

‌

"And then as the window goes on, hopefully we can add the players that can make our football smile even more."

Celtic have a habit of leaving it late in the window before triggering big-money signings, with £11million man Arne Engels and £6m stopper Auston Trusty before checking in on deadline day last year.

However, Rodgers doesn't necessarily think leaving it until the days and hours is a transfer strategy of the board.

‌

He added: "Well, I think over the course, if you look at windows, there are always deals done at the beginning. It goes a little bit quieter. Clubs will do deals maybe at the beginning of the windows and then it quiets down a wee bit and then it really increases over your last three odd weeks or so.

"So I don't think that's just for Celtic. I think it's just the way it goes. But, of course, you'll have the trends and you'll have the measures of how Celtic work.

"And, like I say, they've always and will always try and look to bring players in at the best value. And that's partly the way the club is in the position that they'll be in.

Article continues below

"But it's something that the guys that have run the club have run it for a long period of time in the way they have. And, like I said, their interest is the best for Celtic also."

Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.

Click here to read article