BRENDAN RODGERS has a figure in his head for the number of recruits he desires in this transfer window.
However, the Celtic boss is remaining hush about the actual amount and is refusing to divulge information.
So far the champions have added three players to last season’s squad – two keepers in Kasper Schmeichel and Viljama Sinisala and midfielder Paulo Bernardo.
On the other hand, Joe Hart has retired after seven honours in his three years as the Hoops’ established No.1 while striker Oh Hyeon-gyu, unsettled Sead Haksabanovic and fringe teenager Rocco Vata have also moved on.
HERE WE GO AGAIN…Brendan Rodgers back in the old routine at Lennoxtown.
Asked if had a figure for arrivals before the transfer deadline in 27 days’ times, Rodgers answered: “I do in my own mind, but not openly.
“You guys know the score. If I give you a number then we get held against that. So, I know internally what I want in my own mind to help us, but we can only really assess the window once it’s done.
“Our duty is for the supporters, to give them the best team that we possibly can because they deserve that for the support they give the club, the money they spend. So, we as a football club, have to give them the best team that we possibly can.
“But sometimes that isn’t always straight away. Sometimes you have to wait that little bit, as frustrating as that can be for supporters, for managers, for coaches, and also for the players.
PEP TALK…Brendan Rodgers exchanges words with Pep Guardiola after Celtic’s 4-3 win in North Carolina during the successful US tour.
“They want the competition, they want the fresh faces in order to improve.
“But as long as by the 31st of August we have improved our team and our squad, then we’ll all be really happy and we can move on.
“But whilst the work is going on to improve the squad and give us those sort of guys who can make the difference for us, we’ll work with the players we have.”
Quizzed if he had given his players specific objectives at which to aim, Rodgers, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “That’s something we’ll speak about before tomorrow’s game. That’s part of my presentation.
“But I think here at Celtic a lot of it is self-explanatory. You know you get three trophies domestically, so to win them is the target.
JUST CHAMPION…jubilant Brendan Rodgers is smiles better as he hoists the Premiership silverware above his head.
“In the Champions League, we want to qualify for the play-offs by the end of January. And then there’ll be other little targets that we’ll speak with players individually in terms of their own personal targets and where they can get to and how they can improve.
“Some will say it’s very difficult in the modern game because you just win the next game, but I always think it’s nice to have a signpost to where you want to go.”
“You might not ever see to the very top of the staircase, but as long as you start and you start in the right way and you make the right first steps, then eventually you can get to where you want to get to.
“I think having a signpost to where you want to go is important.”
Rodgers is preparing his squad for the Premiership kick-off against Kilmarnock at Parkhead on Flag Day tomorrow where Danish legend Schmeichel and his new team-mates can expect a rousing welcome from a packed house.
