Celtic need rabbits out of hats - presto

Andrew H on the dwindling time and the urgent need in this summer's window

Celtic better be preparing to produce more rabbits from hats than you would see at a Magic Circle workshop for the classically trained.

The pressures going into the final week of the transfer window can be explained by likening Brendan Rodgers’ senior squad, as it stood last weekend, to said top hat (stay with me here, I have worked hard at this extended metaphor). Containing a winning array of tricks, it was nevertheless threadbare in a couple of places - with one left-back in Greg Taylor, and Liam Scales a first choice centre-back. However, the imminent £26m sale of Matt O’Riley to Brighton, and the growing feeling Manchester City could be about to prise away Kyogo Furuhashi in a £20m deal, raises the possibility of two massive holes being punched in the bottom of the elongated headwear. With the potential for all sorts of upset to the elements contained within.

It is not a position Rodgers would have wanted to conjure in his mind. Not least when pondering how torturous were the processes involved in the Celtic board facilitating him with Adam Idah and Paolo Bernardo. Even as the pair were two successful loanees from last season desperate to return permanently and unwanted by their parent clubs. Only the cut-price £3.5m paid to Benfica for Bernardo in part reflects that. In contrast to the eyebrow-raising £9.5m deal struck with Norwich for Idah.