The Hoops boss won’t be afraid to get the cheque book out but has provided some realism on how much can be spent.
Brendan Rodgers is well aware Celtic fans reckon their club is sitting on a pile of dosh and are desperate to see some of it spent.
The Hoops gaffer admits the club DOES have a decent wedge of cash right now – and they are prepared to spend it. That doesn’t mean punters can expect Rodgers to shatter the transfer record and bring in a £20million player in this window. But it could mean Celts are willing to stump up for high end stars like the £6m plus spent on the likes of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jota.
The clock is ticking in the January window and so far the Parkhead purse has only been opened for £3m recruit Nicolas Kuhn. Rodgers himself has spoken about the desire for quality and that remains the aim in the last week of the window. But he’s also prepared to be patient. And he’s certainly not at odds with the Celtic board, who sometimes struggle to shake off the old biscuit tin reputations from down the years. Rodgers knows there is dough there – but the relationship with the club’s suits is priceless.
He said: “Supporters are right to ask that. If you promote as a club you have the money in the bank, then they know the money is there.
“But we’re all the same, we want what is the best for Celtic. We want quality players in but we know there has to be a balance between young up and coming players and players that are ready made. We are very aligned on that.
“Yeah, I speak and communicate with them really well, particularly with Michael Nicholson and Chris McKay. We have regular communication, regular meetings, as much as people want to promote this, we’re absolutely on the same page.
“I know what we need to do to improve the team and the squad. If I could click my fingers and do it that would be great but football doesn’t work like that.
“So, it takes a bit of time but our relationship is very strong. I will always demand we have the best players we can possibly have here, and if that means pushing the limits then I will always do that.
“But I will always respect where we’re at as a club, and it was one of the things for coming back here. For me it’s not about the numbers or the number of players. It’s about having a squad that is competitive and you can take one player out and put another of quality in.
“The board guys run the club and the finances and run it very well. My demand will always be to get the very best players that we possibly can. And if there are ones who aren’t better than we already have, I don’t see the point in bringing them in.”
Rodgers has the chequebook ready but he still lives in the real world. And while Celts may have £70m in the bank, he’s not going to splurge a huge chunk of it on one player.
He said: “No. It’s very difficult. The money’s there but that won’t happen. If you’re bringing in a £20m player then you’re taking a £20m player’s wages. That doesn’t work here sadly. We’re not in that ball park.
“That (£6m-£7m ) is realistic. I think we’ve done that. This isn’t new. You look before when they signed Carter-Vickers or Jota for £6m-£7m. The evidence is there that they do that. But £20m?
“I’m just looking at good players. The money thing is irrelevant to me. As you’ll see some duds. I only look at the level of player I can get to. I don’t necessarily say, ‘give me a £7m player’. He might not be as good as a £2m player who has a capacity to grow.
“So for me it’s about the level of player who’s going to come in and improve us and not just sit in behind someone. They have to really compete.”
Celtic fans are growing impatient but their manager is fairly relaxed about it all. There is a league title up for grabs and a £60m Champions League bounty on the line.
But Rodgers is in much less of a flap about it all than the fans and he’s also keen to look from within as well as in the transfer market. He said: “I understand the need for progression and I understand 100 per cent what the team needs in order to improve. I don’t want to be in a rush to bring in a player, it always has to be the right player.
“And also I want to be here for a period of time, as long of course as I’m successful, so I want to create an opportunity for young players to come through here.
“Everyone talks about signings and I always say you might have someone within your academy but you need to have the space for those payers to flourish and develop.
“So, yes, I hope we can add to the group, and I’m confident that we can, but also I want to develop the talents that are here and continually grow them.
“A big part of my philosophy has always been to have faith and trust in the players that we have. In the modern game there’s always a shout for new signings and it looks great on the yellow bar on the telly saying Celtic have signed a new player.
“But that soon wears off if he’s not any good or won’t improve you. For me a big part of what I do is maximising what we have.
“I know what we need to do in the squad. I know clearly the profile of player that’s needed here to help us going forward. And if they’re available then I’m sure the club will do everything they can to help us on that. If not, then we’ll look towards the summer.”
