Rodgers reveals what his next signing must do

Brendan Rodgers has ruled out a big name signing unless they can meet his demands at Celtic.

Progression to Thursday’s draw for the group stages of the Champions League tomorrow (Tuesday) night will see Celtic cash at least £20 million, but Rodgers isn’t willing to be trigger happy.

Celtic have been linked with seasoned players such as Bastian Schweinsteiger and Xavi however neither are wanted by Rodgers for specific reasons which he highlighted.

As quoted by the Scotsman, he said:

I don’t need a marquee signing that can’t run. I can get you a marquee signing, but they’ve got to be able to press and they’ve got to be able to run. For me, it’s never been about the name.

But of course if the name is big and he can play, then great, but for me it’s about having the right profile of player who can come in. No matter the age, they have to be hungry in every single game and every training session and that’s what I always look for.

I think as long as they maintain the hunger and the will, because this is a team that you have to be able to run in. You have to be athletic, you have to be able to press. You can’t run forward if you can’t run back, that’s one of my rules for a team.

Rodgers has already added four players to his squad, three of whom he worked with previously during his managerial career.

Kolo Toure, Scott Sinclair and Dorus de Vries all played for him previously, where as Moussa Dembele is the only summer signing so far the former Liverpool and Swansea manager hasn’t worked with before.

The Irishman will be looking to guide Celtic to the group stages of the Champions league at the first attempt and end their three-year absence from the competition.

To do so, the Hoops will have to maintain their healthy lead from their first leg tie at Paradise against Hapoel Be’er Sheva.