Former Celtic defender Charlie Mulgrew believes Brendan Rodgers should focus on adding a goal-scoring winger before the transfer window shuts, saying that last summer’s expensive business could cause some issues this window.

The former Parkhead defender gave his verdict on what business might be done, and while he sees the value in signing another striker or centre-back, he reckons recent spending will make that unlikely.

Celtic spent big last summer, and that, according to Mulgrew, could come into play as Brendan Rodgers looks to make moves in this transfer window.

Idah, who joined permanently following a successful loan spell, is entering a make-or-break season in Glasgow. Mulgrew acknowledges the forward’s potential, but doesn’t expect the board to splash out again in that department.

On the defensive side, Celtic secured Auston Trusty for £6 million, and while the former Celtic defender believes another centre-back would help, he doesn’t see further investment being likely.

Instead, Mulgrew pointed to the flanks as an area where Rodgers can truly strengthen. With Kuhn no longer a Celtic player and Jota out until the new year, reinforcements are needed.

Speaking on Go Radio, Mulgrew, who has spent some time with Rodgers at Lennoxtown, said:

“I think a striker’s needed, but the problem that I see with getting a striker is £9 million was spent on Idah last year, and the jury’s still out on that one. Although he did great on his loan move when he came in last year, it didn’t go the way he wanted it to go. Hoping this season he gets a full pre-season and then shows his worth. But I don’t think that the Celtic board — listen, I don’t know, I’m only guessing — they’re not going to go, ‘There’s another £9 million to get somebody else,’ when they’ve just signed somebody for £9 million.

“Centre-back, I think, is needed, but Trusty’s been — £6 million’s been spent on Trusty, so you’ve been given a left-sided centre-back, which isn’t easy to get. There’s £6 million spent on him, so I can’t see them running out and going, ‘There’s another £6, £7, £8 million’ — which is still a gamble, by the way — to say, ‘There’s another centre-back.’

“So I think Celtic need another winger. I think wingers, in the past 10 years for Celtic, have played a huge part in everything they are — speed, assists, goals — and I think Brendan Rodgers would love a winger that has goal contributions, that can score goals. And I think that’s a big area they can improve on.”

With weeks remaining in the window, Celtic’s next move could define how their squad shapes up for a demanding domestic and European campaign.