January can be a frustrating month, for managers and fans alike. There can be targets that slip by the wayside, key men that are poached away at a critical time in the season, and areas of the team needing strengthening that remain unaddressed.

At least in terms of outgoings, Celtic fans could breathe a heavy sigh of relief yesterday. Manager Brendan Rodgers spelled out in no uncertain terms that not only would Matt O’Riley not be allowed to leave the club during this window, after he was subject to a bid from Atletico Madrid, but that none of his key men would be sold.

Frustration remains though at the lack of incomings, with only winger Nick Kuhn added to the Celtic squad from Rapid Vienna thus far, and with less than a week of the winter window still to run. A frustration that is heightened by their own manager spelling out from the start of the campaign that he was targeting quality in this period, and the bulging bank balance the Celtic board have been happy enough to crow about, but less happy to relinquish in a meaningful way.

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So, what can the Celtic support expect in the rest of this window? Would their manager be able to pursue a player in the £15m to £20m bracket, for instance, a figure it has been reported Liverpool would demand for goalkeeping target Caoimhin Kelleher?

“No,” Rodgers said flatly.

“It’s very difficult. The money’s there but that won’t happen. If you’re bringing in a £20m player then you’re taking a £20m player’s wages. That doesn’t work here sadly. We’re not in that ballpark.”

Are the club still targeting a middle ground though between that sort of outlay and the £2m project players that have become a common part of the Celtic recruitment strategy, perhaps in the region of the £6m or so it took to secure the likes of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jota?

“I think that’s realistic,” he said.

“I think we’ve done that. This isn’t new or now. You look before when they signed Carter-Vickers or Jota for £6-7m. The evidence is there that they do that. But £20m is…

“I’m just looking at good players. The money thing is irrelevant to me. As you’ll see some duds. I only look at the level of player I can get to. I don’t necessarily say, 'give me a £7m player'. As he might not be as good as a £2m player who has a capacity to grow.

“So, for me it’s about the level of player who’s going to come in and improve us and not just sit in behind someone. They have to really compete.”

There is something of a narrative that the relationship between Rodgers and the various iterations of the Celtic board that have existed throughout his two spells at the club have had something of a fractious relationship, particularly when it comes to transfers.

But Rodgers is keen to point out that at this moment, there is in fact a decent degree of harmony between the dugout and the boardroom.

“I speak and communicate with them really well, particularly with Michael (Nicholson) and Chris (McKay)," he said.

"We have regular communication, regular meetings, as much as people want to promote this [narrative]…we’re absolutely on the same page.

“I know what we need to do to improve the team and the squad. If I could click my fingers and do it that would be great, but football doesn’t work like that.

“So, it takes a bit of time, but our relationship is very strong. I will always demand we have the best players we can possibly have here, and if that means pushing the limits then I will always do that.

“But I will always respect where we’re at as a club.”

That’s not to say that the frustrations of the fans are not also his own, as Rodgers acknowledged he fully understands why supporters would look at the club’s balance sheet and wonder why more of those reserves weren’t being used to strengthen the most important part of the club – the team on the park.

“Supporters are right to ask that,” he said.

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“If you promote as a club you have the money in the bank, then they know the money is there.

“But we’re all the same, we want what is the best for Celtic. We want quality players in, but we know there has to be a balance between young up and coming players and players that are ready made. We are very aligned on that.

“For me it’s not about the numbers or the number of players. It’s about having a squad that is competitive and you can take one player out and put another of quality in.

“The board guys run the club and the finances and run it very well. My demand will always be to get the very best players that we possibly can. And if there are ones who aren’t better than we already have I don’t see the point in bringing them in.”

That may seem to some Celtic supporters as though they are being softened up not to expect too much then before the window does indeed close on Thursday.

“A big part of my philosophy has always been to have faith and trust in the players that we have,” Rodgers added.

“In the modern games there’s always a shout for new signings and it looks great on the yellow bar on the telly saying Celtic have signed a new player. But that soon wears off if he’s not any good or won’t improve you.

“For me a big part of what I do is maximising what we have. I know what we need to do in the squad. I know clearly the profile of player that’s needed here to help us going forward. And if they’re available then I’m sure the club will do everything they can to help us on that.

“If not, then we’ll look towards the summer.”