Wait and see- Rodgers cautions against transfer expectations

Brendan Rodgers has warned that Celtic transfer business this month will be impacted by how many players can be moved out.

There is a consensus that the current squad is far too big with Stephen McGowan naming nine players that could be moved on during the current window.

That list doesn’t include Sead Haksabanovic or James McCarthy, already out on loan it is difficult to imagine Bosun Lawal, Adam Montgomery or Jonny Kenny returning to threaten for a first team starting place.

After two outstanding transfer windows masterminded by Ange Postecoglou the last three signing windows have been patchy at best, highlighted by the summer of 2023 where Luis Palma has made an impact with the others starting a handful of games while Marco Tilio and Kwon Hyeok-kyu have played a combined total of 27 minutes.

With no form of reserve football it is very challenging to keep players match fit and motivated but somehow Rodgers has to deal with a squad of more than 30 players and whittle them down to 14 or 15 to make a winning contribution on matchdays.

There is an expectation of new signings, first team starters to come in this month but speaking to the Daily Mail Rodgers added a significant element of caution as the first week of the window draws to a halt with no movement confirmed either in or out:

For the players themselves and for their football careers, they need to play. For financial reasons, you can’t be carrying numbers of players each month who aren’t contributing. It then allows us the opportunity to bring players in. That’s just a natural process.

I have regular dialogue with players but we obviously have to wait and see as well because some players may want to go out but, if we don’t get the players in that we need, then I have to ensure the squad is as strong as it possibly can be for the second part of the season. So there’s that management side to it as well.

Moving in mid-season never seems ideal, even those that aren’t making the matchday squad might decide to stick it out until the summer with the off chance that their career could take an unexpected turn like Liam Scales experienced.

Celtic have a low key return to action at home to Buckie Thistle in the Scottish Cup, that sort of match should be ideal to bring players in ahead of the trips to Aberdeen and Hibs at the start of February.

Achieving his squad targets will be no easy task for Rodgers, with contracts in place and agents making promises there seems little prospect of a serious overhaul during the remainder of this month.

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