Brendan Rodgers admits he tried to sign Europa League final winner for Celtic in 2017

Brendan Rodgers has been talking about adding quality to the Celtic ever since the club were knocked out of the Champions League in December.

Defeats to Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid and Lazio left the Celtic boss rueing a poor summer transfer window where all but one player signed, Luis Palma, really made an impression on the Celtic first team.

However, winning the league this season gives Rodgers access to Champions League millions which will help enable him to bring in that quality to help the Parkhead club comPete in Europe next season.

But it was during his first tenure at Celtic that Rodgers tried to sign a player of real quality which was on display in last night’s Europa League final fixture between Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen.

Rodgers wanted Ademola Lookman at Celtic

Ademola Lookman was in superb form for Atalanta last night as his historic hattrick helped defeat Jeremie Frimpong‘s Invincible Bayer Leverkusen side.

But Lookman’s career could have been so very different had Rodgers got his way in 2017 as he explains why the Nigerian international’s proposed move to Glasgow didn’t materialise.

Rodgers said [talkSPORT], “Gaby, I was so so happy watching the Game last night for him because I go back to my first spell here at Celtic.

“I met with Ade when he knew he was leaving Charlton and we’d look to get him up here at that time.

“But it was so early in the window that by the time the window finished we couldn’t afford him. The money was too much for us and in the end, he ended up going to Everton.”

Lookman’s move to Everton ended up being a bit of a nightmare move as he made just 48 appearances in two seasons scoring just four goals.

He then moved to RB Leipzig, Fulham and on loan at Leicester under Rodgers. And whilst the Celtic manager raved about his time at The Foxes, Lookman did only hit eight goals in 42 appearances.

It is at Atalanta, however, where the Nigerian has really been on fire. In two seasons Lookman has netted 30 times in 76 appearances and has created 16 goals to boot. [Transfermarkt]

And his hat trick last night was just different class.

Just imagine the damage he could have done at Celtic had Rodgers managed to come up with the cash to sign him.