Brendan Rodgers delivers biggest hint yet regarding Celtic’s summer transfer activity

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers will be desperate to bolster his ranks at Parkhead over the next few weeks.

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers spoke to reporters yesterday about his hopes of strengthening his squad before the transfer window closes on August 31st, and hinted that now is the time to add some real quality to his ranks at Parkhead, as quoted by the Daily Record.

The Hoops are aiming to win their eighth consecutive Scottish Premiership title this season, but they will undoubtedly face stronger competition from Rangers, who seem to be galvanised after Steven Gerrard’s appointment as manager.

Celtic have already brought in Scott Bain on a free transfer and Odsonne Edouard from Paris Saint-Germain for around £9 million after his successful loan spell last season, but Rodgers will be keen to strengthen his options further still.

The 45-year-old spoke to reporters last night, and hinted that now is the time to add some genuine quality to his ranks at Parkhead, rather than rely too heavily on young talent, as quoted by the Daily Record:

“There are still a few key areas where I want to bring in quality and thus far we haven’t completed on it. Listen, I always respect that there is a balance because we’re not in the market with the resources to go and spend nine, 10, 11 million pounds on every player you sign. You can’t do that. But I think we’ve earned, over the few years, the possibilities to, where the squad needs the actual real genuine quality, the ability to do that. Talents are fine. All my career I have done that, worked with talents, improving 19-year-olds, 20-year-olds, 17-year-olds, 18-year-olds. I have put them in. But you also need proven talent. There is an expectation here to work not just alongside the talents but to have proven talents that will allow us to grow.”

Celtic began their 2018/19 Scottish Premiership campaign in fine fashion with a 3-1 win over Livingstone, but they will face a far tougher challenge on Saturday when they head to Tynecastle to take on Hearts, and they will need to be at their very best if they are to return to Glasgow with maximum points.

Whatever happens at the weekend, though, judging by Rodgers’ comments, Celtic will still be looking to bring in some genuine quality before the end of the month.