BRENDAN RODGERS is remaining positive, despite anxiety among the Celtic support about the lack of summer signings.
The Hoops manager insists he will not get drawn into the “toxic and negative energy that comes with transfers”.
The champions have added just one outfield player to last season’s double-winning pool and that is Paulo Bernardo who returned on a five-year contract after his impressive spell on loan from Benfica, as CQN reported last night.
Goalkeepers Kasper Schmeichel, a free agent after quitting Anderlecht, and Viljami Sinisalo, a £1million recruit from Aston Villa, are already in place to take over from the departing duo of Joe Hart and Benji Siegrist.
WELCOME BACK…Brendan Rodgers greets the returning Paulo Bernardo.
South Korean striker Oh Hyeon-gyu has moved to Belgian outfit Genk in a deal worth around £2.3million while Sweden-born Montenegro international winger Sead Haksabanovic, who was on loan at Stoke City last time out, has joined Malmo for £1.7million.
Adam Idah is still on Rodgers’ priority list and the pursuit of the Republic of Ireland international frontman, who scored nine goals in 19 loan appearances from Norwich City last term, could go all the way to the deadline on August 30.
The Celtic gaffer is remaining focused as he prepares his players for the Premiership kick-off at Parkhead on Sunday when Kilmarnock will be the visitors on Flag Day.
As speculation mounts and nerves of some followers are stretched to snapping point, Rodgers insisted: “It’s always about quality. That’s the key.
“We had a good squad last season, but we needed to improve on that.
WINNING FEELING…Brendan Rodgers led Celtic to three triumphs in the US.
“Thus far we’re short, even on those numbers. Paulo coming back is great, but we’re still short on that.
“The guys have been working so hard behind the scenes and we know what we need to do.”
Rodgers, speaking to Sky Sports, added: “I’m not going to get bogged down in the negative and toxic energy that comes around transfers.
“We’ll work with the players we have. We know we’ll make them better.
“We know as a club what we need to do and what we need to improve and we have just under four weeks to be able to do that.”
