The demand for more quality at Celtic will always be high. Fans and the manager will rarely be fully satisfied with what they have and will remain on the lookout for new signings. With the summer transfer window open, there are plenty of opportunities to sign more talent over the coming weeks and months.
Saturday’s behind-closed-doors defeat in Portugal shouldn't be taken too seriously. It’s just an early step in the preparations for the new season. Some players were getting their first minutes coming out of the break.
But friendlies or otherwise, Celtic fans always want to win and demand a top performance. Neither was achieved on this occasion.
The defeat brought on even more demand from fans for signings to strengthen the squad. And the rumour mill cranked up further with plenty of possibilities to wear the Hoops. There is though one signing that the club need to prioritise to help secure a successful season.
The signing Celtic need to make as soon as possible
It shouldn't be a complex situation and while technically not urgent right now, it has to be a priority to sort out soon. It’s not a player though, it is Brendan Rodgers’ contract as manager that needs extending. He signed up on a three-year deal when he arrived for his second spell at Parkhead, and that expires at the end of the new season.
Celtic are quite good at managing player contracts and putting new deals in place in time. Though the likes of Greg Taylor show it doesn't always run smoothly, and brings uncertainty. It’s that latter point that makes the biggest difference at the club.
A squad of players will always prefer certainty. They’ll benefit from a new deal for their boss. They will get added confidence knowing Rodgers isn’t looking around for a new role and is unsure about his own future.
That extra stability can also be vital for new players considering signing for the club. We’ve all seen scenarios where a manager signs a player they really want, and then leaves soon after. It might very well have ruined Kyogo’s short time at Rennes earlier this year. Knowing the head coach is settled on a longer-term deal could help make a difference when potential signings are considering their options.
Leaving a question mark over an approaching contract expiration can also be quite a distraction. Questions will keep being asked by the media and also fans, and most likely seep through to the squad of players too. They won't want all that and need to remain focused on the challenges on the pitch that lie ahead.
It may be that it's all in hand. But again, somewhat like with Taylor, the longer it goes on, the more you wonder. Rodgers swatted away questions ahead of last week's game in Cork. He and Dermot Desmond were both in the city. The Northern Irishman reckoned there was no rush and the focus was on next season's preparations. Maybe so, but it still should be a high priority to extend, unless one or more parties aren't keen, a worry in itself!