Brendan Rodgers reveals profile and timeline for new signings

Celtic will have to crank up their recruitment activities in the final week of the transfer window.

Four project signings came in relatively early in the window to little fanfare as supporters waited on some statement signings that could build on the momentum created by two exciting seasons of Angeball.

Maik Nawrocki and Gustaf Lagerbielke were signed either side of Carl Starfelt’s departure just as Celtic’s central defensive options were struck with three blows over eight days.

Cameron Carter-Vickers, Stephen Welsh and Nawrocki are all starting at eight weeks on the sidelines with a trip to Ibrox and the Champions League openers coming in that timespan.

There are other recruitment issues throughout the squad but central defenders are now a priority otherwise Celtic could be taking on Real Madrid, Manchester City or Bayern Munich with Lagerbielke and Liam Scales in front of Joe Hart.

Rodgers and Mark Lawwell have got seven more days to come up with solutions or else the hoops face four very demanding months in a far weaker position that they finished last season.

Will this make you move in the window, Brendan, for reinforcements in that area?

I think we have to look at it, there’s no doubt. It’s an area that we’re light on. When you’re losing three players for that length of time and knowing the number of games that we will have and the importance of every game, then it’s something we need to look at.

You talk about lots of names and even with the centre-backs with the injury crisis you’ve got at the moment. When you’re looking at the market, would you prefer to bring in a player like the club has been doing over the last few years, maybe a 21/22-year-old with a lot of potential, or would you rather bring in someone more experienced – perhaps a little bit older that can come in and start right now and be one of the leaders?

Yeah, ideally. I think especially at centre-half. I think it’s a specialised position where for me experience always helps. We’ve got a lot of young players in the squad, but in order to bring those players on and bring them through they need to play with players – not just of experience but of quality.

You need to hopefully try and align both because you’ll see the best of those players – the guys that are young and developing and dealing with the expectation. If they can play alongside the guys that are going to pull through and then bring out that potential, then ideally that’s what you want. That’s something that we’ll look at.

Going back to your defensive position – given you’re short – is there any possibility do you think of you making any inroads before this weekend’s game on that front?

I wouldn’t have thought so.