STAR-SPOTTER Lee Congerton has vowed to deliver Celtic a new batch of quality youngsters for the Hoops’ conveyor belt of emerging talent.
The club’s new Head of Recruitment, who had a similar role at Chelsea and SV Hamburg, admitted he was thrilled to join the Brendan Rodgers revolution at the champions.
The Welshman, who scouted Scott Sinclair when he was at Stamford Bridge alongside the Parkhead gaffer, said: “There’s a system and a strategy and that’s what attracted me to the club.
“It’s about young players adding value and continuing to dominate Scottish football and play in Champions League football.
“I look at the Celtic team and there’s pace and power in Scott Sinclair and Moussa Dembele.
“Moussa is rightly getting the headlines, but we are always looking to recruit the right player and, hopefully, they will become the superstars of tomorrow.
“That’s what excites me. At Chelsea, we signed Scott Sinclair for £200,000 and Ryan Bertrand from Gillingham for £150,000.
“Fabio Borini for 110,000 euros and Patrick van Aanholt for a few hundred Euros and signing him later for Sunderland for £1million and they sold him recently for £14million.
“That’s what motivates me. There’s no correct way in signing a player. Talents that can become superstars of tomorrow is what has attracted me to this role and Celtic have done that well over the years.
“I hope to continue that with the good network we have in place.
“This club is one of the biggest in Europe and we want to be playing Champions League football. So, players we are recruiting need to be able to play Champions League football.
“Hopefully, you get more right than wrong. Players will always disappoint you, some will surprise you, we are, hopefully, trying to make sure we have filters in place to minimise the risk.”
Congerton also insisted the priority is aiding Rodgers to put a successful first team on the pitch.
He added: “Celtic have made a lot of money from players in recent years – and they are winning, as well.
“We want to win, but I don’t think we are in any hurry to sell players.
“Brendan has spoken to me since he arrived here about a number of the players he signed and asked for my opinion.
“So, I’ve been involved in some of those conversations prior to my arrival. This wasn’t a tough decision for me to make.
“It was a long decision because of my own personal situation. But when I knew things were being resolved, I was delighted to come here because the club have made well on transfers and there has been strategy.
“They understand how important recruitment and scouting is.
“That’s something I think I am a specialist in and it’s something I want to continue to develop and grow in.
“I’m very excited to be at Celtic and to be part of Celtic, who are known throughout the world, I hope I’m here for many years to come.”
