The aim for Celtic and Brendan Rodgers next season is to continue to cement the club’s position as the number-one team in Scottish football. And, of course, turning over the squad and bringing in new players is going to be part of that process. With Rodgers’ former club Leicester City announcing their retained list recently, could the Northern Irishman be tempted into any of the free agents. Or indeed, any of the present playing squad?
As you’d expect, heading into next season, Celtic, who have won the last three Scottish Premiership titles, are heavy favourites with online football betting odds lists to make it four in a row. In the end, it wasn’t even close last season, with Celtic finishing eight points ahead of Rangers. But it was close at times, and the strengthening process has to happen to keep things moving in the right direction.
Some may question why Rodgers would look to his former club for players at this moment or players he knows from Leicester who are now free agents. But it’s often an advantage for managers to bring in not only players they know but also players who know them, their methods, and what’s expected of them. This is backed up by reports that suggest Rodgers is keen on recruiting Daniel Amartey, who played for him at Leicester, from Turkish giants Besiktas. The Ghana international can operate in both defence and midfield and would be well-suited to Scottish football.
Leicester City have now announced the departures of Marc Albrighton, Dennis Praet and Kelechi Iheanacho. Albrighton preferably operates anywhere down the right side but can play on the left if required. However, he is thirty-four years old and will turn thirty-five in November. Praet is a thirty-year-old central midfielder, and Iheanacho is a twenty-seven-year-old striker.
Interestingly, during Rodgers’ time at Leicester City, Iheanacho is the player he used the sixth most, with the Nigeria international making 143 appearances for the Foxes under him, scoring forty-three goals and making twenty-three assists. Available on a free transfer, would it be a deal that Celtic look into this summer? Especially when you consider that Adam Idah had headed back to Norwich City following the end of his loan spell.
Albrighton made the tenth most appearances for Rodgers at Leicester, with 117 outings, which resulted in six goals and sixteen assists. It feels unlikely, primarily due to the player’s age and Celtic being well-stocked at right back and further forward. Would the same apply to central midfield, too, the position that Praet plays in? He’s appeared 81 times for Rodgers previously and has great technique and passing range.
Whether Rodgers does raid his former club or take an interest in players he’s worked with previously or not, he and the club will be determined to do some good business this summer. If they get the recruitment right, it will only help strengthen their position, and four in a row would look even more likely.
