Rodgers Left With Questions After “Wild and Inexplicable” Celtic Transfer Window
Celtic’s summer transfer window has closed, leaving a trail of frustration and unanswered questions for manager Brendan Rodgers and the Premiership champions. Despite winning the title last season, the Hoops have seen their squad significantly altered, and not necessarily for the better, with key departures and a series of missed targets. The result is a “wild and inexplicable” transfer period that leaves the club’s title defense in an uncertain state.
The most notable departure was winger Nicolas Kühn, who left for Serie A side Como in a £17 million deal. This exit, combined with the earlier sales of Kyogo Furuhashi and Jota, has stripped Celtic of some of their most potent attacking threats. The club did bring in several new faces, including the return of fan-favourite Kieran Tierney on a free transfer from Arsenal and the signing of winger Sebastian Tounekti for £5.2 million. However, a major point of contention for supporters and a source of clear frustration for Rodgers has been the failure to secure a striker.
Celtic’s pursuit of a new number nine was well-documented. Their primary target, Kasper Dolberg of Anderlecht, opted for a move to Ajax instead. This left the club scrambling on deadline day, and the situation was made even more complicated by the £7 million departure of Adam Idah to Swansea. Rodgers had stated that he would not let Idah leave until a replacement was secured, but the deal went through anyway, leaving a significant void in the squad.
The manager has not been shy in voicing his concerns. In a series of interviews, Rodgers has stressed the need for “more quality, more speed, and more creativity,” and he has openly questioned the timing and identification of transfers. While he has maintained that the club will invest, he has also hinted at a disconnect with the board, a sentiment echoed by large parts of the Celtic fanbase who are now questioning the club’s ambitions.
For Rodgers, the challenge is clear. He must now work with the squad at his disposal, which, despite the new arrivals, appears weaker on paper than the one he finished with last season. The pressure is on to get the new signings to gel quickly and for the remaining players to step up and fill the void left by the departing stars. With Rangers also strengthening under Russell Martin, albeit with their own transfer challenges, the Scottish Premiership title race is shaping up to be far more competitive than many anticipated. The “wild and inexplicable” transfer window has set the stage for a season where Rodgers’s coaching abilities will be tested to their limit, and the faith of the Celtic faithful will be pushed to the b
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