Chris Sutton Reads Between the Lines in Rodgers’ Transfer Message

Chris Sutton has interpreted Brendan Rodgers’ recent comments on transfers as a message to the Celtic board, suggesting that the manager is tactfully applying pressure to ensure the team’s transfer needs are met before the season starts.

Speaking about Rodgers’ interaction with the media in the United States, Sutton pointed out that Rodgers’ mention of Celtic’s chief executive Michael Nicolson and chief finance officer Chris McKay wasn’t just routine information. Instead, Sutton believes it was a deliberate communication to remind the board of their responsibilities.

With Celtic looking sharp in pre-season yet evidently short in several key areas—particularly in the striking department where Rodgers has explicitly stated his desire to add at least two more players—the need for swift and effective action in the transfer market is acute. This is underscored by the lack of outfield signings despite the recruitment of two goalkeepers. The season starts in just 8 days, leaving no time for any signing to get settled in before the flag is unfurled.

Writing in the Daily Record, Sutton read between the lines. He wrote: “By name-checking chief executive Michael Nicolson and chief finance officer Chris McKay when asked for the state of play by the Scottish newspaper journalists in America, it’s hard not to think there was another message being delivered.

“Rodgers basically said he was doing his part with the squad and it was now over to them to deliver the new signings. I’m not sure if it’s applying a bit of pressure, but it’s definitely a sense of, ‘right, it’s over to you guys’. They do need to get to work. Celtic have looked sharp in pre-season but we all know they are still short in vital areas of the team.

“They only have one striker on the books right now in Kyogo and Rodgers also said he wants two more. We know Adam Idah is the main one he wants back but another one is required and you’d think it would be a young prospect or even a loan player. You also look at left back, centre half, the midfield and perhaps also out wide.”