Celtic transfer situation: four names wanted, peripheral players free to leave.

Celtic transfer situation: four names wanted, peripheral players free to leave.
Brendan Rodgers has yet to open the chequebook, but expects fresh additions to arrive by next week.

They claim that patience is a virtue. Celtic fans’ fortitude is being challenged as each day goes without a new signing.

The Hoops are already in their second full week of pre-season, and after 24 days since the transfer window opened, there are no new faces at Lennoxtown. Brendan Rodgers appears to be at ease about the issue, based on his words Friday night. However, the Northern Irishman made it clear that he wants some business to be completed before the champs go for their US trip next week.

A new goalkeeper is high on his wish list, and as Football Scotland first reported on June 6, Celtic have set their sights on Sparta Prague’s Peter Vindahl Jensen. The Parkhead side faces the daunting challenge of replacing the iconic Joe Hart’s gloves this summer, and Jensen is thought to be their first pick.

The 6ft 4in Dane is signed to a multi-year contract with the Czech giants, who are unwilling to sell. That implies the Double-winners will have to pay a significant amount to sign the 26-year-old.

Celtic are also determined to complete Adam Idah’s permanent transfer, and talks with Norwich City are ongoing after their original £4 million approach was rejected. Crucially, Idah is eager to return to Parkhead following a successful loan spell in Glasgow.

Similarly, negotiations with Benfica to sign Paulo Bernardo are ongoing. Celts had the option to acquire the Portugal Under-21 playmaker for roughly £6 million, but the player is valued at closer to £3.5 million. Bernardo is not part of manager Roger Schmidt’s plans for this season and will remain in Lisbon for the time being.

Rodgers is also looking to strengthen his defensive options, and he has reportedly made a bid for Burnley goalkeeper Dara O’Shea. The Republic of Ireland international joined Turf Moor from West Brom last summer, and despite being relegated from the Premier League, the Clarets still see him as an important player for the next season. Burnley would not be willing to part ways with the centre-back for less than £7 million, which they spent last year.

Outgoings: The champions are aiming to reduce their bloated team by offloading more peripheral players. Sead Haksabanovic has already left for Malmo, out-of-contract Rocco Vata joined Watford last week, and Marco Tilio has extended his loan spell with Melbourne City.

However, they will not want to lose Reo Hatate. The Japanese playmaker had a difficult year due to injuries before returning to the lineup for the season’s final stretch. Hatate has been a huge success in Glasgow over the last two and a half years, but he has informed the media in his own country that he wants to play in one of Europe’s top leagues.

Ben Siegrist was nowhere to be seen on Friday night as Celtic began pre-season with a 1-1 draw against Ayr United. Scott Bain, Tobi Oluwayemi, and Josh Clarke were also given minutes in goal, however former Dundee United goalkeeper Siegrist was not engaged. The Swiss goalkeeper plainly has no future at Parkhead, but with two years remaining on his contract, it remains to be seen whether another team will be able to match his pay demands and lure him away.

Defenders Gustaf Lagerbielke and Yuki Kobayashi have also been declared surplus to requirements. Celts will look to recuperate the £3 million they paid Elfsborg for Lagerbielke last summer, while Kobayashi is expected to return to the J-League. James McCarthy, the forgotten man, is utterly out of the picture, but he may dig his claws in by completing the final year of his contract.

South Korean striker Oh Hyeongyu is a £4 million target for Belgian side Genk, and the Glasgow giants might use the money to re-sign Irish attacker Idah.