da bet7k： Brendan Rodgers, as reported by The Daily Record, has this week laid out his vision for Celtic in the upcoming transfer window, believing he will be in the market to sign players of quality to enhance his side’s chances of qualifying for and competing in the UEFA Champions League.
da realbet： The Hoops are in a difficult position, currently having a squad that is far and away too good for Scottish football but ultimately not quite to the standard you need to progress in Europe’s elite club competition. They can’t match the spending of the biggest clubs in Europe and that makes recruitment tricky.
However, they can identify diamonds within their budget. Take Scott Sinclair as an example, he was a player having a rough time at Aston Villa, but clearly still a player of high ability. Celtic pushed the boat out a little to get him and he’s repaid that in spades.
If he is to be the blueprint of a Celtic signing this summer then what sort of names could be in the mix when it comes to the Hoops?
Here are four exciting talents that we believe Rodgers could turn into players capable of competing at a high level…
Anthony Knockaert
Anthony Knockaert has been a sensation in the English Championship this season, scoring 13 goals and assisting 8 others from the right wing. In many ways he’s made a similar impact at Brighton compared to Scott Sinclair’s impact at Celtic, only on the opposite wing.
Recently named the Championship player of the year, Knockaert isn’t a player who would come cheaply to Celtic but a player who could be tempted by the promise of UEFA Champions League football and working under a talented manager who has just committed the next four years of his life to the club.
We saw last summer that even high profile names in English football who have good seasons, like Joey Barton, sometimes can’t resist the lure of playing in Glasgow.
As impressive as they’ve been this campaign, Championship leaders Brighton could end up becoming relegation strugglers next season and escaping to a massive team with big ambition could be just the ticket for the Frenchman.
Joe Gomez
Still trying to piece together his Liverpool career after serious injury, Joe Gomez is a player who could be given the spotlight and most importantly first team opportunities if he made the switch to Glasgow.
A versatile defender, he would add a bit of class to the Celtic backline, something Brendan Rodgers knows only too well having signed him from Charlton Athletic in the summer of 2015.
A reunion could be massive for both parties, Rodgers obviously trusts him to do a job at the highest level and the confidence he could instil in the 19 year old could be the kickstart Gomez needs to realise his potential.
He isn’t getting game time at Liverpool despite ropey defensive performances, so whether he has a future under Jurgen Klopp remains in doubt.
Having recently made U21 appearances for England, his career is on the up again and Celtic should make their move while the timing is right.
Aaron Mooy
Like Anthony Knockaert, Aaron Mooy has been one of the top performers in the Championship this season at Huddersfield Town, on loan from Manchester City.
The Australian midfielder has been a rock in the heart of their midfield and a key part of their promotion and play-off push this term.
He has experience of Scottish football, having started his professional career at St Mirren of all places, but it was a return to his homeland where he really found his feet and just like Celtic star Tom Rogic has emerged into a wonderful talent for both club and country.
A midfield with the duo in it would certainly be the talk of every football fan down under, boosting the club’s worldwide credibility, but on the pitch it’d likely be an effective combination too.
Celtic need depth in the middle of the park and if they can convince Mooy, who is unlikely to be getting first opportunities at City any time soon, that his future lies in Glasgow, they’d be adding a player ready to shine in the first time both domestically and in Europe.
Henry Onyekuru
Henry Onyekru has scored 15 goals in Belgian football this season and is a player ready to take the next step of his career and make an impact at one of Europe’s top clubs.
The latest reports from Belgium suggest big German clubs are interested so if the Hoops are to make their move then they’d better do so soon.
Celtic were linked with the player in January and he is said to have tried to force a move to the Scottish champions, but it fell through. Since then he’s continued to bang in the goals at Belgian club Eupen and would be a significant and exciting acquisition this summer if the Hoops can follow up their initial interest.