Brendan Rodgers has made it clear that change is coming to Celtic this summer, with the manager keen to guard against complacency in his squad by injecting new energy and competition.
The Hoops boss, who has seen his team stutter at the latter stages this season, believes that a refreshed squad will be essential to maintain standards and avoid stagnation in the months and years ahead.
The Northern Irishman is eyeing both domestic and European improvements and wants to avoid a situation where players feel too secure in their positions and stressed the importance of continually evolving the team.
“No, I think change is needed,” he told Celtic TV. “That’s that freshness, that new energy coming into your squad. It sort of alleviates any of that sort of complacency.
“So we will bring players in to challenge the squad and the team for the summer. That’s natural for any team, you know. However this team does at the end of the season, come the end, we want to improve it because, like I said, if you just sit on that, then the team needs the competition.
“So either way, we will look to improve the squad. One of the ways to succeed and guard across what I’ve been talking about is you need the freshness. It’s either that or the manager goes.
“It’s as simple as that, there’s no rocket science in it. You cannot be at a club for a long period of time with the same group of players. And likewise, the same group of players need a different voice maybe.
“But at this moment, it’ll be about improving the squad.”
With key players potentially moving on and new arrivals expected, Celtic fans can anticipate a busy summer window, one where Rodgers will look to shape a side capable of dominating at home and making an impression in Europe.
It could also be Rodgers’ last season with the Hoops. He signed a three-year deal at Celtic in 2023, which will expire in 2026. Whether he signs on past then remains to be seen. He’s not hinted that he plans on doing it, but at the same time, he’s not admitted he’ll be looking for a new challenge. Next summer could be interesting for Celtic.
