CELTIC have been credited with making a formal bid of £2million for Aston Villa winger Scott Sinclair.
Brendan Rodgers worked with the 27-year-old attacker at Swansea and the Irishman is a big fan of the player.
Sinclair provided the new Hoops boss with one of his finest moments in management when he scored a hat-trick in the Wembley play-off final to earn the Swans a place in the Premier League.
New Villa gaffer Roberto di Matteo has been told to trim the wage bill after the Midland side’s relegation last season and he may be tempted to allow Sinclair to move on.
Rodgers insisted there is no barrier to him making marquee signings for the five-in-a-row champions. He revealed there have been no restraints placed upon him by majority shareholder Dermot Desmond or by chief executive Peter Lawwell in the hunt for new faces this summer.
He has made signing quality frontmen to support Leigh Griffiths a priority as he prepares for the new campaign. He has already shipped out Anthony Stokes, Carlton Cole and Colin Kazim-Richards.
Rodgers dismissed talk of transfer limits or wage caps restricting his plans and said: “In any of the meetings I had, that was never spoken about.”
Asked if he could go for a player with a higher wage than currently at the club, Rodgers said: “Yes, absolutely. All I ever want is the highest quality. It’s not about numbers. I need quality over quantity.
“When you have a level of two or three players who can really lift the group, you find they raise the bar. Of course, you inherit a group high on numbers that needs to be cut, but you need to bring a couple in who can improve the squad.
“I don’t know what happened before. All I can talk about is my experience. Every club will run on affordability and availability. I understand the market as well. I can’t go out and get Luis Suarez, I know that.
“But I know the club will push to get the best possible player we can and that’s what they have done. The club have been brilliant.
“I’ve spoken about a couple of targets and Peter and Dermot have been great in trying to progress those. I’d hope they could be done, but it will take time. None are determined on whether or not we qualify for the Champions League.”
Liverpool’s Joe Allen is also among the big-money targets linked with Rodgers. The Anfield outfit want £6million for the Wales star with a year on his current deal and the Hoops manager added: “Joe is a wonderful player. I always look at all my former players.
“I understand all clubs have a model. The no fear of youth is great and I love it, but I also like the experience.
“I would hope to do business before the first Champions League qualifier.”
