SPL

Brendan Rodgers not anticipating ‘many more’ signings at Celtic

By Sports Desk September 01, 2023

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers does not anticipate “many more” signings as the Scottish champions prepare to announce a loan deal for Benfica midfielder Paulo Bernardo.

The Hoops signed Honduras winger Luis Palma and on-loan Liverpool defender Nat Phillips earlier this week.

When asked if there could be some late deals, Rodgers said: “I’m not so sure. I don’t think there will be many more coming in.”

On the imminent signing of 21-year-old Bernardo, Rodgers said: “Again a young player that’s coming in with potential and that will hopefully be confirmed.

“He comes in with the opportunity to see him and give us more strength in depth in that midfield area and we will see how he develops.”

Rodgers expects Sead Haksabanovic to depart after the attacking midfielder appeared to express frustration over a lack of game time on social media.

Rodgers said: “Haksa is one of those that will look for game time and want to be a starter. So I would expect him to be moved on.”

Rodgers was not impressed with the intervention on Instagram where the Montenegro international stated: “If they don’t see your value maybe you’re not at the right place.”

“I did speak to him on it,” the Celtic boss said. “I was a bit surprised to be honest. Certainly from when I came in, he has been offered nothing but respect by everyone and certainly by myself in terms of the communication and conversations.

“But this is a new generation and a new wave of player. It doesn’t matter to me.”

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes is still looking for a striker.

“Nobody will be going out,” McInnes said. “We are still trying to bring someone in. Everyone is working flat out to do that.

“We have one in particular and two or three other plates spinning but we are trying to lean on everything possible to get this done. I’m optimistic and you have to be without being overly-confident.”

Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell hopes to make one more signing with no movement in the pipeline the other way.

“I am hoping to bring in one more player,” he said. “With the couple of outgoings that maybe gave us the opportunity to bring in one more so I am relatively far along the way of making that happen.

“I would anticipate that will probably be confirmed at some point today.”

On potential outgoings, Kettlewell said: “As it stands, there is no interest in anybody, whether you are looking to move players out or get them some more game time. There is nothing else we can anticipate.”

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson warned that none of his players would be sold on the cheap after Aberdeen made an approach for Australia midfielder Keanu Baccus.

“There hasn’t been a formal bid, there have been conversations between the two clubs,” Robinson said. “No club has met our valuation on any player, including Keanu at this stage and I don’t expect them to.

“We are not in a position where we were last year when we had to take offers for players that were below market value. We have steadied the ship and got our finances right.

“We don’t need to sell players unless it meets the valuation of the board.”

Robinson added: “I don’t intend doing any business in. We have put our squad together, we have got the players in we wanted and we are happy with that.

“We have strengthened the squad from last year and if the window closed now, I would be very happy.”

Rangers got most of their business done ahead of the season, but the departure of Glen Kamara to Leeds on Thursday could prompt more activity.

The Ibrox men have been linked with a loan move for Leicester centre-back Harry Souttar.

Hibernian caretaker manager David Gray would not rule out any late moves from his club and Hearts could also strengthen.

Ross County could be in line for a seven-figure sell-on windfall amid reports Sunderland have accepted a bid worth up to £10million from Southampton for former Staggies striker Ross Stewart.

St Johnstone and Dundee could potentially add but Livingston are not anticipating any late business.

Related items

  • 'Super simple' – Lille president rules out January exit for Jonathan David 'Super simple' – Lille president rules out January exit for Jonathan David

    Lille president Olivier Letang has categorically ruled out a January exit for forward Jonathan David amid links with a number of European clubs.

    David is out of contract at the end of the season and has been touted as a target for the likes of Bayern Munich, Juventus and Barcelona.

    Speaking this week, the Canada international named Barcelona as his "dream" club but suggested he would prefer not to leave Lille mid-season.

    And in an interview with After Foot RMC, Letang confirmed no bids have yet been tabled ahead of the January window.

    "We are not going to sell him in January, and we have not received any offer for him," he said.

    "Jonathan's situation is super simple. We are very happy to have him with us. 

    "Last season he had one more year left on his contract. We were trying to qualify for the Champions League. 

    "You have a guy who scores 20 to 25 goals a season. We had no obligation to sell him."

    David is into his fifth season with Lille and has scored 97 goals in 202 games for the Ligue 1 side in all competitions while assisting a further 18.

    Seven of those goals have arrived in 11 appearances this term, including in Champions League games against Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Juventus.

    The 24-year-old's best league season with Lille saw him score 24 goals in 2022-23, while he has netted 19, 15 and 13 in the other full campaigns.

    Lille chief Letang reiterated that David has been offered a new deal to stay on at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, but selling him has never been an option.

    "He is a player who scores between 20 and 25 goals and helps us qualify for the Champions League," he said. 

    "Plus, Jonathan loves Lille, which is his club. Our position was very clear from the beginning – we think of the athlete. 

    "Obviously, he already has an offer that is in his hands, the ball is in his court."

  • Guardiola suggests Man City's recent form played part in signing new contract Guardiola suggests Man City's recent form played part in signing new contract

    Pep Guardiola suggested Manchester City's run of four successive defeats was part of the reason for his contract extension.

    The 53-year-old recently signed a two-year deal, which will run out in 2027, ending months of speculation about his future after his contract had been due to run out at the end of the campaign.

    Following a 2-1 defeat to Brighton before the international break, Guardiola's side have lost each of their last four matches in all competitions for the first time in his managerial career.

    "I felt I could not leave now. Maybe the four defeats was why," he told the club's website.

    "I think we deserve, after four defeats in a row, to bounce back and try to turn the situation. I think we deserve to be here. I am not arrogant to say, but it's the truth."

    Guardiola has led Manchester City to 18 major trophies during his nine-year stint at the club and posted a 72% win ratio.

    He added that he was determined to help the club get back to a state where they are "more stable and more consistent".

    "We have to recover that because right now we don't have it and that's the target we have to do," he said.

    City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak added: "Like every City fan, I am delighted that Pep's journey with Manchester City will continue, allowing his dedication, passion and innovative thinking to continue to shape the landscape of the game.

    "His hunger for improvement and success remains insatiable and the direct beneficiaries of that will continue to be our players and coaching staff, the culture of our club, and the English game at large."

  • Leicester's Fatawu ruled out for rest of season with ACL injury Leicester's Fatawu ruled out for rest of season with ACL injury

    Leicester City manager Steve Cooper confirmed Abdul Fatawu will miss the rest of the season.

    The 20-year-old sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACL) while playing for Ghana against Angola during the international break.

    Fatawu has featured in all 11 of Leicester's Premier League matches so far this season and has registered two assists.

    No Leicester player has attempted (61) or completed (29) more dribbles than him, while his 30 crosses is also a team-high in the top-flight this season.

    "It's not good, it's a serious injury," said Cooper ahead of their match against Chelsea on Saturday.

    "It's a real blow, first and foremost for him, being a young player and having an injury as serious as what an ACL is.

    "Albeit, it can be quite common in sport, and in particular football, but it's still a serious injury.

    "For it to happen at a young age is a blow for him and a blow for us as well.

    "He's obviously a big talent and a young player, as exciting as he can be at his age, with lots to learn.

    "It's only a pause, and we will make sure, as difficult as it is at the moment for him, that he comes back being a stronger player and person, which, with the mentality and character that he has, I think will be the case."

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.