With Celtic’s transfer business the focus of attention this week, a lot of the chat surrounds which particular positions Brendan Rodgers is looking to strengthen in the upcoming January window.
TBR Celtic told how in the summer, Celtic had earmarked four positions they were looking to fill and out of the four, John Hartson believes on won’t be looked at when the January window opens.
The former Celtic striker was asked if he thought Rodgers would look to sign a new goalkeeper and Hartson’s response was very interesting.
Hartson said [The Go Radio Football Show], “Well, it all depends if Brendan Rodgers sees Joe Hart as his number one going forward next season.
“I think that now they’re out of the Champions League, Joe Hart is more than capable of dealing with the second half of the season in goal for Celtic.
“Going for the Scottish Cup and going for the league title. I think he’s been excellent in recent years. Yes. He’s made a couple of mistakes but in terms of his shot-stopping and still with Siegrist there and Bain there, I don’t think they need to add another goalkeeper.
“Maybe at the start of the next season possibly when Joe Hart’s out of contract I believe. But not this season.
“I think Joe Hart is good enough to deal with what’s coming you know in the next four or five, six months for Celtic.”
MORE CELTIC STORIES
Celtic need at least five first-team-ready players for the Champions League
Looking at the squad at the moment, it is my belief that Celtic requires at least five players added to the squad that could walk into Brendan Rodgers’ first team.
The goalkeeper is the obvious one but what is clearly lacking, especially in the Champions League, was a strong left-back as the likes of Lazio targetted Greg Taylor as one of the weakest links in the team.
A lot of the goals conceded in the tournament came down Taylor’s side and that is something Rodgers will need to address for next season.
A striker is another obvious area. With the Asian Cup coming up, Celtic could end up strikerless for three fixtures in January.
The lack of creativity in the wings is another area of concern. Celtic look devoid of ideas without the likes of Liel Abada, Daizen Maeda and Luis Palma in the side.
And whilst James Forrest and Hyunjun Yang huffed and puffed, they just couldn’t blow down Lazio’s defensive wall on Tuesday night.
So there is a lot of work that needs to be done by Brendan Rodgers for next season’s Champions League campaign. That’s assuming that Celtic win the league that is.
Because, if their current form is anything to go by, they could be in danger of surrendering the league title if they don’t buck up their domestic ideas.
In other news, Anthony Joseph confirms Celtic’s contract stance on ‘fantastic’ 18-year-old player