BRENDAN RODGERS accepts that business in the transfer market can be conducted in slow motion.
But the Celtic manager is still hopeful he will add significantly to the seven players he has already brought to the the champions in this window.
The Irishman – and the Hoops support – have to be patient throughout what can be complex machinations before deals are signed, sealed and delivered.
Rodgers, preparing for Sunday’s Premiership visit to Pittodrie to take on their Scottish Cup Final conquerors Aberdeen, was asked if there had been any progress in bringing in reinforcements.
He answered: “I’ve got nothing new for you, no. It’s very clear what we need to improve and a lot of work is going on clearly by ourselves and probably every club.
“That’s the reality of this time of the year, there’s a lot of work going on throughout many clubs.
“I know the work that Paul Tisdale and his staff are putting in. So, yeah, we’re hoping that we can conclude some deals and improve the squad.
“As a football club, we will want to have the best available squad that we can to get through the season. I mentioned it before, I think a manager always wants it now, you know, to prepare the team as early as you can.
“But we know the window shuts by the end of August and, hopefully, by then everything is in place, we’re all stable and then ready to go.”
Rodgers, speaking to Celtic TV, continued: “There’s obviously many things that go into it. I don’t do the deals, so I can’t answer that for you.
“But I know that behind the scenes, obviously, there’s a lot of work, there’s a lot of discussions that go on to conclude deals.
“I’m hopeful that come the end of this window, we will have those deals concluded and we get the players in who can help us go forward.
“I think the focus now at this moment for myself is to really make sure that the players who are here are in the best possible condition, best mindset to play the games and and that that’s where we’re at at this very moment.”
Kazakhstan side Kairat Almaty are leading Slovan Bratislva 1-0 in their Champions League third round tie before the second leg in the Czech Republic on Tuesday as they battle to face the Hoops in the play-off with the first leg due at Parkhead a week on Wednesday.
Asked if he believes there will be recruits before the money-spinning encounter that could lead to a £40million bonanza in the league stages of the elite European competition, Rodgers added: “I really don’t know.
“That’s my honest answer.
“We just have to keep working to look to get the players in and in the meantime work with the players who are here to make them the best that they can be.”
