Brendan Rodgers public admission puts pressure on Celtic board

With Matt O'Riley set to join Brighton & Hove Albion in a £30 million transfer, Brendan Rodgers brought in Paulo Bernardo into the Celtic starting XI against St Mirren. The Portuguese midfielder put in a solid display as the Hoops got themselves a 3-0. Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate and Alistair Johnston were the three goalscorers on the day.

The focus will now turn towards next weekend's Glasgow Derby at Parkhead. The two teams' first meeting of the season, and the Rangers did send a bit of a message this weekend with a 6-0 win against Ross County. Let's see if they can deliver the goods when up against the champions of Scotland.

Before that, Celtic have a lot of work to do in the transfer market. They need to find a replacement for O'Riley as soon as possible. The team could do with reinforcements at left-back and centre-back as well. Signing a third striker needs to be on their wishlist too.

That is a lot to do with less than a week left in the summer transfer window. Rodgers certainly seems to be hoping for the squad to be strengthened. As reported by the Daily Record, the Celtic manager said:

"I just hope we can at least get some of it… We’re in a really, really good place. But over the context of the season, it's a really important week for us. As a football club, we want to develop, we want to improve.

“We can't be happy just to make our money and build our pot because the bottom line is on the pitch. That's the bottom line. The supporters, they pay the money. I look back to the Covid times here, the Celtic supporters sold the stadium out and they weren't allowed in it.

“So we have the duty to put the best team on the pitch. That's what we'll do and look to do. It's taken a bit longer than I would have liked. But if we can do it by Friday, strengthen the squad, we'll be in a really, really good place.

“The team is in a good place, mentally, tactically, how they're playing. But we want to strengthen and have that depth.

“It's taken a lot longer than I would have liked as the football manager. That's my brutally honest answer on it. But I will repeat this. If we get them in, then there's still a long season ahead. So it's important that we do get that. And I have belief that we will do."

Rodgers public admission puts pressure on Celtic board

Now, the ball is in the court of the Celtic board. They must go out and make some signings before the transfer window slams shut.

The club's swift approach to transfers during the Ange Postecoglou era was a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately, they are now back to letting things trickle down to the last few days of the window.

They really have no excuse not to strengthen the squad. The club are in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League. They are also set to receive a Scottish record fee for the departure of O'Riley and have successfully moved several other players on as well.