Brendan Rodgers has acknowledged that if Celtic want to “kick on” this season, they can’t afford to fall asleep in the current transfer window.
This looks like a subtle warning shot in the direction of the board.
In other words, “get your finger out, and get me the players I need to kick on!”
In an article by John McGarry in the Daily Mail this evening, Rodgers has confirmed that Paulo Bernardo has almost completed his permanent move from Benfica to Celtic.
Colour me surprised.
That one only took 50 days to get over the line.
Rodgers had this to say regarding the club’s transfer activity so far:We still have work to do but, with transfers, there are lots of moving parts. It’s never as easy as just seeing a player and bringing him in. We’d hope by the end of August we will have the team supported in the way we wanted.
It’s so important that you don’t snooze in this game of football. You always have to be developing and improving. And we want to ensure that we have an improved squad for this season in order to take on all the challenges that we have.
So I’m guessing the inference is aimed at some other people?
Now…I wonder who that could be?
Rodgers refused to be drawn into a discussion regarding the Adam Idah situation, which I covered in depth in an article earlier today.
But it does appear from what he’s saying that he won’t be a Celtic player for quite some time, if at all:
Well, Adam is a Norwich player. He obviously did fantastically well for us last season and we’ll just see what happens over the course of the coming weeks.
“Over the course of the coming weeks”, being the keywords in that statement.
That pretty much clarifies nothing is imminent, and Idah certainly won’t be a Celtic player before the season kicks off on Sunday.
But knowing our board, and the glacial pace they operate at, I sincerely doubt it.
With the Ibrox side moving for their ninth signing in this window, it looks like Rodgers is starting to recognise the fact that we need to get moving too.
Sky Sports have reported today that Dutch defender, Robin Pröpper, is on the brink of sealing a move from Eredivisie club FC Twente to Ibrox, or Hampden, or Murray Park, I’m not sure which.
No fee has been mentioned thus far, but Pröpper seems to be a step up on the calibre of signing to date.
There is also reports in the Sun today that they are looking at a move for 8 times capped Dutch player, Marco van Ginkel, from Vitesse Arnheim.
I don’t doubt that Brendan Rodgers keeps himself informed on these things.
So I’m sure he’s aware of it, and that would explain his comments in McGarry’s article.
I get the feeling he’s starting to get restless.
Whatever about the last time, who would blame him this time around.
We’re witnessing one of the poorest transfer windows on record for Celtic.
The reality is that at some point, that will irritate Rodgers.
And I’m putting it mildly when I say irritate.
The article finishes with Rodgers having his say on the current situation regarding Matt O’Riley:It’s not a club where you have to move on from. But obviously there are riches in other leagues much greater than ours which allow players to go and improve their conditions for their lives. We all understand that.But I think it’s really important from my perspective that, if a player does leave, that they pay the valuefor the player. And that’s not something that always happens. Sometimes the value can come in a lot less. I have worked in the Premier League and I understand the levels there. And I understand the players and what the values are.
So, no player will leave here unless it’s for the right valuation and, at this moment in time, there has been no team that’s been anywhere near that.
Rodgers is making it clear that Matt O’Riley will not leave the club unless his valuation is met.
From our perspective, that’s a good thing, because nobody has come anywhere near his valuation so far.
Our board hasn’t come any where near his valuation yet, hence the reason he’s still a Norwich player.
I guess that’s how these things work.
Not rocket science, meet the players valuation and then we’ll talk seriously about a move.
Celtic have yet to show they’re serious when it comes to acquiring the services of Adam Idah.
We’re all aware now of what his services can deliver, aren’t we?
Our board don’t seem to be yet though.
I think Brendan Rodgers is letting them know, in his own way, that he is not happy with the pace of our transfer business to date
We cannot afford to fall asleep at the wheel.
And no player will be allowed to leave the club unless his full valuation is met.
Pretty clear cut, isn’t it?
The board would do well to pay heed to his subtle messages.
Last time out, they became less and less subtle, until next thing, he was gone.
Lightning could never strike twice in the same place, could it?
With our board, anything is possible…
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