The January transfer window is now officially open, which might result in some Celtic ranks changes.
In an attempt to go to the next level in Europe, Brendan Rodgers has frequently expressed his wish to bring genuine “quality” into his squad. The Champions League campaign included some impressive performances during the group stage, with the Hoops finally earning the victory they had been waiting for in the match against Feyenoord. However, the elite level can be harsh and punish you for even the smallest mistake. In order to leave his mark, the Celtic manager wants to bolster his roster with more skill and tested players as they aim to defeat Rangers in the Scottish Premiership this year and secure a spot at the top table alongside Europe’s best.
Due to a multitude of significant problems that the men from the east end are dealing with, this four-week period is infamous for being a challenging time to have transfers approved. The contract statuses of David Turnbull and Joe Hart are particularly noteworthy, as FIVE first-team players are leaving for international service in preparation for the Asian Cup, but Yogo Furuhashi is not one of them following his rejection by Japan.Record Sport looks at four important decisions that could be made at Parkhead this month, and it appears like Rodgers will have a busy month ahead of him.
After defeating Feyenoord 2-1 in the Champions League, Brendan Rodgers reflects.
The midfield position of the Hoops is perhaps the strongest in their lineup, with Matt O’Riley and captain Callum McGregor serving as regulars. Following his injury layoff, Reo Hatate is also back in the mix, with Paulo Bernardo making a breakthrough in recent weeks after relocating to Glasgow. He scored the first goal in the recent derby victory over Rangers and is becoming better as the games go on. The champs also have Odin Thiago Holm on their roster to cover that part of the field.
Turnbull has made 18 appearances in all competitions, scoring seven goals, so he has had his fair share of action. Discussions about whether he will stay or leave have cooled off, and if there is still interest, the Hoops could profit in the near future.
Leave it out
Similar to David Turnbull, Joe Hart is a well-known figure whose contract is about to expire. When the former England No. 1 arrived in Scotland, Ange Postecoglou pounced on him, and the veteran has been selected first ever since. Although there was a lot of discussion in the summer about introducing a fresh face to that position, Brendan Rodgers has kept it going.
Although Scott Bain and Benjamin Siegrist are on standby, neither has been able to pose a serious threat. If anything were to happen this month, it might be that one of the backup pairs leaves.
There has been no discussion about Hart thus far, and it’s possible that Rodgers may continue to look for a goalie in the interim until the summer before selecting the 36-year-old.
He certainly brings a great lot of leadership and experience to the table, but the question is whether the Celtic manager wants to start him as his No. 1, develop him into a backup role for any future acquisitions, or allow him to leave for a new challenge in the summer.
Another issue that has to be resolved as quickly as possible.
defensive positions
Given that Scott McKenna has already been connected to a move this month, Brendan Rodgers might be tempted to bolster his defense.
When his short-term loan expires, Nat Phillips plans to return to Liverpool, while Gustaf Lagerbielke—who only joined in the summer—has also been mentioned as a possible departure candidate.
Alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers, Liam Scales has established himself as a vital player, but this season, the USA international has struggled with several nagging injuries. Similar circumstances surround teammate Stephen Welsh, while Maik Nawrocki hasn’t had a sniff since the first few weeks of the year. He played well when he came on during the victory over Rangers and hopes to continue in Glasgow.
However, there are concerns about injuries, departures, and other issues, so this is something that may come up this month.
Asian Games
This month, Celtic will lose FIVE players to the Asian Cup, but Kyogo Furuhashi, a remarkable exception, will not be participating.
Oh’s call-up by South Korea is devastating for the player, but it’s great news for Brendan Rodgers. Another player that can play through the middle is Daizen Maeda, but he will be traveling with Japan along with Reo Hatate, Yang, and Marco Tilio, who have also been chosen for foreign service for the competition.
The loss of Kyogo and Oh would have created a serious hole in the striker ranks, but since the Japanese striker is still in Glasgow and available for selection when play resumes after the winter break, you have a sneaking suspicion that the Hoops will prioritize adding him in order to have options in the lineup in case of injuries or suspensions, as well as to give them flexibility to change things up.
Bojan Miovski, a great player for Aberdeen, has been mentioned as a possible transfer to Parkhead. If he moves, Parkhead would gain a striker with experience in both Scottish football and the league. Without a question, he is a talented player on the home front and has proven to be a formidable opponent in the Europa Conference League. Another name that has been in the business for a long time is Mathias Kvistgaarden of Brondby. Although his club has already cautioned potential suitors that they must be “blown away” by an offer in order to do business, Celtic, who had a bid rejected last summer, may reconsider the matter.
This month, a striker nearly seems inevitable, and the supporters of the Houston Rockets will be salivating and keeping a close check on him.
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