da wazamba： With Brendan Rodgers and his backroom staff working hard to ensure they build a squad that can dominate in Scotland and achieve in Europe, it’s really important they don’t make any mis-steps in the transfer market.
da poker： A way of achieving that is working with players you know and trust can do a job for you, rather than rely on unknown quantities. With such an important summer coming up we could see players arriving at Celtic that have played under Rodgers before. After all, the Ulster-born tactician has managed at Reading, Swansea and Liverpool, as well as having coached at Chelsea, so he has quite the pool to pick from.
Here are FIVE former players Rodgers could reunite with at Celtic…
Andre Wisdom
Brendan Rodgers gave Andre Wisdom his Liverpool first-team debut after arriving at the club in 2012. Just 19 when that happened, the young defender went on to make 22 appearances under Rodgers before spending time out on loan.
He’s been learning his trade in the Championship and Premier League with Derby, West Brom and Norwich over the last three seasons and is primed to make the first big move of his career.
With Celtic needing something of a reboot in defence, there’s no surprise that he’s been linked with a £3m move to Glasgow.
Joe Gomez
Another Liverpool player reportedly interesting Brendan Rodgers is Joe Gomez. The highly rated 19-year old defender was a summer signing by Rodgers last summer, arriving from Charlton. He made 5 appearances before suffering a season ending injury on youth international duty for England.
Now looking to rebuild his Liverpool career, a loan move to Scotland could be the ideal thing for both parties – first team football for Gomez and a quality young defender for Celtic.
Danny Graham
Team-mate and fellow striker Steven Fletcher is the latest to tip Danny Graham for a move to Celtic.
Fletcher told the Sunderland Echo, “He (Graham) would be a great player for them. We’re good pals, and I enjoyed my time playing with him. He played for Brendan at Swansea and Watford so he knows what he’s about. He’s a great player, a big strong lad who can finish as well.”
With Fletcher also reckoned to be in line for a move to Celtic, it’ll be heartening for supporters to hear that potential partnership is already based on solid relations.
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Hal Robson-Kanu
Brendan Rodgers gave Robson-Kanu his professional debut after spotting his talent and bringing him through at Reading after he was released by Arsenal.
The Welsh international was a key member of the squad that reached EURO 2016 and he’s become a fans’ favourite, too, as his tireless running up front has embodied the spirit of a team that play around Gareth Bale.
Out of contract after 12 years at Reading, Celtic could be the ideal home when he decides his future after the tournament in France. At 27, he still has his best years ahead of him and his flexibility in being able to play out wide or spearheading the attack would be just the ticket for Celtic.
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Kolo Toure
Even with his contract expiring this summer, wages would no doubt be an issue in attracting Toure to Glasgow but at 35, Celtic offers the Ivorian defender another chance to play for a massive club after spells at Arsenal, Man City and Liverpool.
Rodgers signed Toure on a free transfer from Man City in 2013 and he was part of the team that came so close to winning the Premier League. He made 25 appearances for Liverpool in the season past, which shows he still has plenty to offer teams of a high quality.
Is he too much of a stretch for Celtic? Time will tell, but an experienced head in central defence could be just the thing Rodgers is looking for.
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