Brendan Rodgers, in his second stint as Celtic manager, has sought to clarify the narrative surrounding his return to the club.
Contrary to widespread reports suggesting that the financial resources available for transfers were a significant factor in his decision to succeed Ange Postecoglou, Rodgers insists that he has not returned to overhaul the transfer model in place, and will look to maintain the successful structure in place.
Evidence of this approach is already apparent in the club’s summer transfer activity. Players like Marco Tilio, Odin Holm, Maik Nawrocki, Yang Hyun-jun, and Kwon Hyeok-kyu have all been brought in for relatively small fees, a strategy that has proven successful under previous manager Postecoglou.
“The club will reach out and spend what they possibly can within the model,” Rodgers told the Daily Record.
“But I think there has been a narrative based around me coming back which seems to be ‘he’s only back here because he can spend a load of money’ And that couldn’t be further from the truth. I’m back here because I want to be the Celtic manager and I’m very privileged to be that. It’s absolutely nothing to do with money whatsoever. I know where the club is at.
“I am much more aware coming back in of the model and where it is at. That’s why I needed the time to make the decision to come back, because I need to know everything about the club and where it’s at. So for me on a personal level the club has a model it works to and I’ll work within that. But there seemed to be a different narrative about me coming back here. It felt like it was people who don’t know me were creating a story around ‘why would he come back?’ It was like ‘he must be doing it because of the war chest he’s being given.
“It does make me laugh when I read it. But it’s one where I will work within the model of the club and the club has a business model which has been really successful. We will look for players who are first-team ready. But we’ll also look at players who we can bring in and develop and move on. That’s the nature of it.
“Look, there are levels to it all. You could bring in a player at any cost because if he’s a good player he’ll have value. That’s what we want. But I’m not, in any way at all, demanding that we need to sign three players at £10m or £15m. That’s not the case.”
Rodgers’ comments set the record straight on his return to Celtic and provide insight into his approach to transfers. His commitment to working within the club’s existing model, focusing on developing talent rather than splashing the cash, aligns with Celtic’s successful strategy in recent years. As Rodgers embarks on his second stint at Celtic, fans can expect a continuation of the club’s proven approach to transfers and player development, hopefully putting fears about Rodgers’ recruitment to bed.
