In order to defend their Scottish Premiership title, Celtic had a busy transfer window. Now, according to sources, it seems like they are focusing on bringing in additional players in January.
What is the most recent Celtic news?
The National reports that Inverness Caledonian Thistle’s favoured candidate to succeed Billy Dodds at the Scottish Championship team is B Team coach Darren O’Dea, who Celtic will have to struggle to keep.
Although his current employers are anxious to keep him around, former Celtic player O’Dea will now fly north to the Highlands for face-to-face meetings with Inverness over their management job. O’Dea has worked his way through the ranks since returning to Parkhead in various coaching capacities.
The Hoops played in the Champions League throughout the week and suffered a humiliating 2-0 loss to Feyenoord in their group opener. According to Sky Sports, Gustaf Lagerbielke and Odin Thiago Holm were both dismissed from the game, and Celtic were masters of their own demise.
This weekend sees Celtic return to Scottish Premiership play, and left-back Greg Taylor is eager for a stiff challenge against Livingston at the Tony Macaroni Arena on Saturday.
Taylor said, “Coming back to domestic action, it is a big change, of course,” in an interview with Celtic’s official website. But winning is the only requirement for this club. It’s physically taxing, in my opinion, in both directions. You are exerting your body to the absolute maximum because the Champions League is the best. However, you’ll play on Saturday and perhaps alter your approach slightly. Another difficulty is the physical demands of Livingston. It’s just something you have to manage.
What has Rodgers said in regards to Celtic’s hiring?
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers mentioned in his pre-game press conference prior to the Hoops’ matchup against Livingston this weekend that he may try to balance out his youthful group with some veteran players.
According to a quote from Rodgers provided to Sky Sports: “Listen, if you look at the club’s philosophy, it’s signing the younger players to develop and improve. To maximize that potential, of course, you need that balance in your squad, as I believe I have stated before here. You require quality and experience, which will undoubtedly aid and assist your potential. Therefore, I’m hoping that the squad may evolve into that during the duration of my stay here.
The likes of Carl Starfelt, Aaron Mooy, and Jota left Celtic in the summer, and more seasoned players like Tom Rogic, Nir Bitton, and Giorgios Giakoumakis have also left the team. According to Transfermarkt, Celtic’s roster has an average age of 25, have mostly invested in young players, and have welcomed Rodgers back to Glasgow.
Celtic find themselves in a difficult situation because they are a dominant force at home but find it difficult to compete at the highest level in Europe due to the Champions League’s changing structure, which continues to allow top-bracket sides to spend significant sums of money on recruitment year after year.
