Celtic moved to bring Lee Congerton to Glasgow this week, as Brendan Rodgers makes transfer plans for next season.
Lee Congerton’s comments to Sky Sports back in 2014, while he was working as Sunderland’s head of recruitment, could offer some insight into his transfer plan at Celtic.
Congerton has recently come in at Celtic, and he is expected to have a big say over their future recruitment.
Although the move to Celtic is a different challenge to Sunderland, there are similarities between the two clubs in the market.
Sunderland have not had masses of funds to spend, like many of their Premier League rivals, and Celtic also have to spend within their means.
While at Sunderland, Congerton expressed a fear over signing foreign players with little experience of British football.
And, if that remains Congerton’s opinion, then it suggests that Celtic could target the domestic market more than the European one.
He said: “Ultimately we want British players, but they cost a lot more money so we need to be smart in the market place and do our research thoroughly,” he told Sunderland’s matchday programme.
“When you bring in a foreign player you’ve got to appreciate the difficulties off the field and the patience needed.
“It helps if they’ve already played in the league. I look at Fabio Borini, who I think has been a success this year.
“He’s a foreign player, but he’s been established in this country since he was around 15 or 16 years of age. I think that’s a market you have to look at quite carefully.”
Celtic are expected to make additions in the summer transfer window, as Brendan Rodgers looks to progress his side even further.
Celtic are well on their way to securing a sixth successive Scottish Premiership title, but Rodgers has already suggested that he wants to see improvement from his side in Europe next term.
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