BRENDAN RODGERS has no intention of a massive cash splash for a marquee signing before this month’s transfer window closes.
The Celtic boss has already shelled out £2million for Ivory Coast striker Vakoun Issouf Bayo, who is scheduled to arrive at the training camp HQ in Dubai today.
He also sealed six-month loan deals for Paris Saint-Germain teenager Timothy Weah and Scotland international winger Oliver Burke, from West Brom.
American left-back Andrew Gutman has also agreed to become the fourth signing pending the result of a work-permit application while Norwegian right-back Omar Elabdellaoui, of Olympiakos, is also on the radar, as CQN reported yesterday.
Asked if any huge signings were on the way, Rodgers answered: “I don’t think that’s how Celtic works.
“The model of the club is value and maximising that value and talent and development and seeing it grow at the club.
“Ideally. I think there are still positions where we would like to get folk in.
“But we needed to improve the squad, there was no doubt about that.
“The second part of the season is about bringing in more offensive threats and giving us more options.
“In the first part of the season, you could see that we were not ideal, having to play players out of position and what not.
“That has just been unfortunate, really. But bringing these guys in really supports the players already there and, once we get the injured players back, as well, that gives us something to look forward to.”
With Mikael Lustig coming out of contract and weighing up a return to Sweden to sign for AIK Stockholm, the Hoops gaffer remains in the market for a right-back and club sources have confirmed an interest in Elabdellaoui, a former Stromsgodset and Manchester City player.
Central defence is also a problem area with Dedryck Boyata running down his deal while Filip Benkovic will return to Leicester City when his temporary transfer expires at the end of the campaign.
Jozo Simunovic has toiled with injury problems and Jack Hendry, bought for £1.3million from Dundee only a year ago, is heading for the exit on a loan deal to be given game-time elsewhere.
That will leave Rodgers with few options, but it is unlikely he will make another move for Aberdeen’s Scotland international Scott McKenna following the rejection of a £3.5million offer in the summer.
