ANDY WALKER, the former Celtic striker, believes Brendan Rodgers will go shopping in January for Champions League players.
The Sky Sports pundit reckons that anyone bought in the upcoming transfer window will be viewed as, at the very least, potentially good enough to help steer the club through the qualifiers next July and August; providing his old team don’t make a mess of what seems to be an unassailable lead at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership.
Rodgers himself has said that he did not need to add any squad players as such. Rather, the purchases made will be with Europe in his mind, which can be difficult and costly.
“I think they are a really strong squad and I believe they will strengthen in January,” said Walker. "Brendan is already thinking of the Champions League qualifiers and where they need to strengthen.
“Maybe that will be a more creative player in the middle of the park, perhaps a more dominant and reliable centre-back, but he will be considering the qualifiers because they will be really difficult.
“Just look at how well Hapoel Be’er Sheva did in the Europa League. They beat Inter Milan! That play-off game was really difficult for Celtic. So looking ahead, you can’t discount any transfer window. They will get someone in January.
“Look, Celtic have sold themselves as a club to be a great place to go and play your football. You have the Champions League, winning titles, Brendan Rodgers is there who has a great reputation for developing players.
“So I think they will use the window wisely and it’s for no reason other than Champions League qualifiers. The thinking will be ‘let’s me more competitive next year’, and that’s not about the Scottish Cup or league because Celtic have already got plenty to get all of that.
“They will get people in who will then have a few months working under the manager and hopefully getting right again.”
This will not come cheap and while Celtic have money, they would be reluctant to spend anything like £6million, the record transfer fee paid out for Chris Sutton, John Hartson and Neil Lennon. Walker, however, does not believe a fortune has to be forked out for Celtic to improve.
“I don’t think that (spending big money) is essential,” said Walker. “Dembele? He was £500,000, has great potential and Celtic will sell him on. I am astonished the big English clubs didn’t go in for him but maybe he knows the type of manager he was getting involved in regarding developing his game.
“Brendan likes the one striker with the support coming from everywhere else. But not the two strikers. It has been tough on Leigh Griffiths at times. I don’t think he is hugely interested in getting Griffiths alongside Dembele.
“I think what he can do is get guys with potential and develop. He has done it before. Of course, you can go and get players such as Scott Sinclair and spend a lot of money on him. Scott does have pace, ability and skill which means he will score and create goals.
“If you can get someone like that, the club would have to spend a bit of money – but I don’t think that’s essential. Knowing he can develop players will be enough. That is what he’s good at.”
Griffiths has got back in the team and back among the goals this month. His strike at Hamilton was his fourth in five games.
However, chances are that Rodgers will go with Dembele at Ibrox for a number of reasons, meaning Griffiths may have to show a little more patience.
Walker said: “I don’t know the type of guy Leigh is. I don’t know whether he is frustrated and would look at his situation. He strikes me as the type of guy who will get the head down. All of his chat has been about working hard in training and trying to stay in the team.
“It would have bene tough for him being out of the side. I am sure he will attract interest. He scored 40 goals last season and so what does he want to do? Will he keep battering away but maybe would go back to being the stand-in striker getting the odd game now and again?
“From the Celtic team’s point of view, it is terrific to have two players in the squad. If Dembele was to suffer an injury, it would be great to look to Leigh because everyone knows what he can do.”
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