FORMER Celtic goal hero Chris Sutton reckons Brendan Rodgers is in “a precarious position” at the champions’ lack of quality signings this summer.
The one-time England international striker insists his old club should get cracking to add genuine depth to the squad with a crucial Champions League qualifier looming.
Plus the Premiership gets underway a fortnight tomorrow when St Mirren visit Parkhead for what has been Flag Day for thirteen of the past 14 years.
Sutton said: “Brendan Rodgers needs reinforcements and his comments about incoming Shin Yamada won’t exactly put fans at ease, when it’s clear they are starting to get a bit frustrated at the last of serious movement in the transfer market.
GRIN AND BEAR IT…Brendan Rodgers prepares for a new season. Image courtesy Celtic TV.
“The manager described the Japanese striker as a club signing and one he’ll assess when he gets in to see if he’s going to be one to develop for the future or one for the here and now.
“I find all that stuff a bit bizarre. You don’t get this stuff elsewhere about club signings as opposed to manager signings.
“Rodgers is clearly being a bit cute. He will have had the final say on the deal, but it looks like he’s agreed to take a look at a low-risk, cheap arrival while also creating a bit of distance if he doesn’t quite work out.
“It’s a strange scenario. You can’t be over-critical of a transfer policy that has made the club fortunes over the last decade and more.
“But it doesn’t seem like Celtic don’t half make things hard for themselves when it comes to transfers.
“There’s a good chance they will spend a decent amount of money this summer.
“It’s more a question of when. How often are they in this position? Fans were climbing the walls last summer waiting for new arrivals and they eventually landed late in the window.”
SWEDE DREAMS…new Bhoy Benjamin Nygren gets advice from Brendan Rodgers.
On deadline day last year, the Hoops welcomed a trio of new Bhoys; Belgian midfielder Arne Engels, a club record £11million buy from Bundesliga outfit Augsburg, £6million USA international centre-back Auston Trusty from Sheffield United and £1million dynamo Luke McCowan from Dundee.
Sutton, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “I think the needs are more pressing this time around, though. Celtic need players in the door and with games under their belt before Europe.
“Rodgers knows it, too. He admitted he’s still looking for new arrivals in the forward areas and it’s obvious why.
“Celtic have sold Nicolas Kuhn and Kyogo Furuhashi and lost Jota to injury. Chuck in Matt O’Riley last summer and that’s a huge amount of goals that have gone from the team.
“Benjamin Nygren looks like he might be able to chip in with a few, but Celtic right now are in a precarious position.
“They only have Daizen Maeda, James Forrest and Yang Hyun-jun in the wide areas – and it’s not enough.
“James Forrest is 34 years old and, while he’s a proven performer, he’s had injury issues in recent seasons.
JUST FAB…Daizen Maeda performs in front of an appropriate billboard.
“Yang hasn’t done enough to suggest he’s capable of being a first-team regular yet and there’s an awful lot on the shoulders of Maeda.
“God forbid if he was to get injured – Celtic would be right up against it.”
The media pundit added: “Fans I speak to are constantly asking me the same thing; What’s going on with the signings?
“There’s a fair few of them who are starting to get annoyed about it. It’s understandable.
“The Scottish Cup Final disappointment is still fresh in the memory and this dithering over transfers is putting them in a bad mood as the season approaches.”
*DON’T miss the unbeatable match report from Celtic v Newcastle this afternoon – only in your champion CQN.
