Brendan Rodgers will stand or fall by his January signings according to Chris Sutton.
When the Irishman returned to Celtic in June he made it known internally that he felt that the squad needed four quality additions, players ready to improve the First XI.
After tamely tumbling out of the Champions League when they lost 2-0 away to Lazio Rodgers decided to go public with his squad assessment.
Following his sharp exit to Leicester City in February 2019 recruitment will always be a sensitive issue with outsiders guessing at the structure of how needs are highlighted with options put to the manager.
Rodgers has made it known that he has the final say when it comes to new signings but after an underwhelming summer window recruitment is under more scrutiny than ever.
Other than Maik Nawrocki all of the summer recruits cost £3m or under with that fee reported to have been paid to Rapid Vienna to make Kuhn Celtic’s first signing of 2024.
The transfer fee isn’t the be all and end all of a players ability, exactly two years ago Celtic were able to sign Reo Hatate and Matt O’Riley for just over £3m.
Sutton watched Celtic’s interest in Kuhn develop into a signing but it was the comments of Rodgers that caught his attention as he explained in the Daily Record:
Brendan Rodgers has described Nicolas Kuhn as having an excellent level of quality.
There’s no conjecture in those words. The manager wants a certain standard of player and, judging by his own comments, that’s what he’s been given in the German. The Celtic boss made a call on quality. Not projects. I stated last weekend I felt Kuhn was one for the project list, but it is the opinion of Rodgers that counts when it comes to signings. So now it’s up to Kuhn to prove him correct. Quite simply, Rodgers has to stand and fall by signings. Every manager does.
All of the spreadsheet, budget and category chat will come to a halt on February 1 when the transfer window closes with further signings expected to join Kuhn in the hoops.
Next season’s Champions League pay outs will be higher than ever, it remains to be seen if the Celtic strategy can deliver for the third season running.
CLICK HERE for Anthony Joseph’s update on Matt O’Riley.
