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Brendan Rodgers has revealed is determined to bolster Celtic’s attack with TWO new strikers, writes Michael Gannon in the USA.
The Hoops boss is hoping to bring loan star Adam Idah back to Parkhead despite Norwich City playing hardball over the hitman. But Rodgers admitted he’ll need another frontman to add to the squad after the departures of Oh Hyeon-gyu and Rocco Vata. He said: ““I think my ideal scenario was to have three, was to have Kyogo, one other one and bring through a young player.
“That was the role we came up for at Rocco. It’s very difficult for a club of this size to have three number one strikers. You can live with two because we play so many games and the specific nature of the games then we can change it about. Three is very difficult. But I also think for development I want to bring some young, maybe a player from within.
“Rocco was that but he’s moved on. So we may have to look elsewhere. But three is a really good number. Two, I would say to be number one strikers, and one that we can nurture and develop.
Rodgers is chasing a number of targets and has been linked with moves for Venezia midfielder Tanner Tessmann and Royal Antwerp winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha.
Celts are edging closer to bringing Paulo Bernardo in on a permanent deal from Benfica while keepers Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo have already checked in. Rodgers remained tight-lipped on transfer talk but said: “I’m really hopeful every day. We know we need to improve the squad
“But we know we need to improve the squad, we want to develop. But in themeantime, whilst we await that, you can see the players that are here are developing well, working well and they’re playing some fantastic football at this pre-season stage.”
Rodgers confirmed keeper Benji Siegrist is heading for the exit, with the former Dundee United no.1 on his way to Neil Lennon’s Rapid Bucharest. The Hoops gaffer said: “It’s fair to say that with Benji, he’ll be looking to move on. He’s been a really professional guy. His spirit, he’d done well at United and come into Celtic and maybe wanted to play more. When he didn’t, and I can only speak for my year with him, he was exemplary.
“His professionalism, everything about him was first class. And when I spoke last season, we thought that probably for him, in this part of his career, he needed to go and play. So I believe that will be the case and he will move on.”
