BRENDAN RODGERS is shutting out the transfer tales that are bombarding Celtic to remain focused on the job at hand.
The Hoops boss is planning for the champions’ High Noon shoot-out against St Mirren on Sunday with sales talk rife as the transfer deadline fast approaches in a week’s time.
Matt O’Riley, Kyogo Furuhashi and Reo Hatate have been linked with Brighton, Manchester City and Leicester City respectively in recent days and Rodgers quipped he is getting ready for a five-a-side match in Paisley.
BEST FOOT FORWARD…Matt O’Riley slides a pass through in Celtic’s 2-0 win over Hibs at Easter Road.
The London-born Danish international appears to be on the brink of a £25million-plus switch to the south coast club, but, unless there is a dramatic development, the playmaker will be lining up in his usual place beside skipper Callum McGregor against Stephen Robinson’s side.
Rodgers has seen his team get off to a 100 per cent start to the new season with two Premiership wins to sit at the top of the table plus a League Cup victory to book a quarter-final place against Falkirk at Parkhead next month.
He could afford to smile while the rumour factory goes into overdrive as he joked: “In terms of all the speculation and gossip over the last week or so, I’m preparing for a five-a-side game at the weekend!
“There’s been so many players linked with going away, but that’s no different, there’s nothing concrete.
“There’s clearly interest in Matt and a number of the other players, but at this moment in time, we’re very clear and very focused on preparing for St Mirren.
NO WAY THROUGH…Kyogo Furuhashi is foiled by Hibs keeper Joe Bursik.
“Until I get told otherwise, that’s exactly what we’ll do. As I stand here now, then Matt is available for the weekend.”
Quizzed on the validity of reports Pep Guardiola, of the Etihad Premier League title kings, was poised to move for the team’s most prolific hitman Kyogo, Rodgers, speaking to Sky Sports, answered: “No, none at all.
“As I said, it’s that time of the season now where the guy’s representatives get to work and all the guys who create the market.
“So, lots of speculation, lots of rumours and there will continue to be.
“I do expect one or two to go out to get playing and, hopefully, coming in the other way to help us improve.”
FOCUSED…Brendan Rodgers spells it as he speaks to Sky Sports today.
Rodgers added: “I think I’ve got a very good squad of good people. I think the challenge for us is to always improve and that will come with bringing in a certain level of quality that can really help us in European football.
“That’s not something that’s new, that’s something that’s always been clear. We’re in a really good place, but, of course, we want to improve as a team and as a club and that will be the objective over the course of the next week.
“We haven’t spent a great deal of money in terms of where we’re at and where we expect to be at as a club. So, I would look at us over the coming week to be able to do some business and it shouldn’t be reliant on players going out.
“We’re virtually running at the same as where we were last season. But if our idea is to improve, then, hopefully, we’ll be active in the market over this next week.”
