With just over two weeks left to go in the summer transfer window, the rumour mill is heating up with names being linked with Celtic left, right and centre. Despite the media frenzy, Celtic will have a clear plan for how they will approach the remaining weeks of the window, but which type of player should the club be focusing on?
On the one hand, you can follow the point of focus of which Celtic have followed over the last few years which is signing talents with high potential and a point to prove. However, with European ambitions on Rodgers’ agenda, the focus could potentially veer towards more proven players to help balance out the squad and add ready-made quality to help tackle the high-tier European opposition.
With two potential approaches clearly identified, which route should Brendan Rodgers and Celtic take with their signings for the remainder of the transfer window?
Proven Quality
With European ambitions in mind, then spending big money (relative to Celtic) on some proven quality to improve the starting XI could be the move. Some of the best signings from Brendan Rodgers’ first spell at the club, such as Scott Sinclair, came with the pedigree that we knew they were going to hit the ground running and make an instant impact with no bedding-in period.
Brendan Rodgers’ knowledge of English football would also allow the club to potentially pick up some shrewd signings from down south with Wolves’ Daniel Podence and Newcastle’s Ryan Fraser both recently linked with the club, but signing players from down south will cost Celtic a pretty penny.
If the club does opt to go for the Portuguese then Celtic would have to fork out a club record fee. The last time Celtic broke their transfer record was when Rodgers signed Odsonne Edouard from PSG five years ago.
The former Liverpool manager isn’t shy of splashing out on a big signing and, if the club allows him to spend on the players he wants, then some European-ready players could potentially arrive before the window shuts. Although it would come at a price, spending big isn’t always the answer.
You only have to look back as far as three years ago when Celtic signed Shane Duffy and Albian Ajeti which was thought at the time to be proven quality, but fans swiftly found out they were far from that.
A low-risk high-reward way of dealing could prove more fruitful for Celtic.
Future Talents
Signed talents from untapped markets with a high sell-on value has proven a successful way of navigating the transfer window for Celtic in recent years.
Working hand-in-hand with Mark Lawell and the Celtic recruitment team, Celtic plucked talents such as Reo Hatate, Matt O’Riley and Liel Abada for relatively low fees and the club has reaped the rewards with those players being regular first-team starters.
This way of handling business has been Celtic’s plan of action so far in this current transfer window with Odin Holm and Yang Hyun-Jun both joining for respectable fees and both looking like they could have their parts to play going forward.
The asquisitions of Maik Nawrocki and Gustaf Lagerbielke also fit this mould.
Whichever route Celtic take for the rest of the transfer window, the club’s success rate with signings has led to fans becoming far more confident with signings the club is making. If Celtic can find the perfect balance between the two approaches, then we could have another successful transfer window on our hands.
JAMES MCKENZIE
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