Brendan Rodgers has green lit Celtic’s continued raid on the Asian transfer market - but has insisted he’s given the final say on any new signings.
The returning Parkhead boss has been given a list of top summer targets drawn up by head of recruitment Mark Lawwell, who previously helped Ange Postecoglou in the hunt for a string of bargain buys from Japan and South Korea. Scotland’s champions launched a bid to land winger Yang Hyun-Yun from from Gangwon FC last week, after Rodgers returned and have also sealed a deal for Norwegian midfield ace Odin Thiago Holm along with making a move for Melbourne City winger Marco Tilio
The 50-year-old believes Postecoglou’s trail blazers - such as Kyogo Furuhashi and Reo Hatate - have proven that the club can successfully plunder the Far East for more top talent at cut price rates. Rodgers refused to confirm if Furuhashi and Hatate are now on Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur wanted list but, nevertheless, he is adamant that he must be in control of all comings and goings this summer.
He said: “Over the course of our discussions I’ve seen the market we’re in and how well the recruitment has gone. Mark Lawwell has this pipeline of players that are available and I think what he’s done since he’s come in has been really impressive - and the markets he’s been able to tap into.
“That will continue. That’s where the club is at. Listen, when you’ve got top players at the club they are always going to attract attention elsewhere.
“Those boys have come in and done exceptionally well. Good players will always attract attention. But I don’t worry about that. As manager, you have knowledge of certain markets or knowledge that you might be able to get a player that’s just become available.
“I know how I want the team to play. Celtic as a club is about offensive, aggressive, attacking football. What I am coming into is a team that’s playing that way. We’ll just look at adapting that and making changes.
“In terms of recruitment I am the one that knows how I want the team to play and I have to be involved in those discussions. And I will be. Some of those markets haven’t been as readily available to some clubs, that’s something Mark has brought with him in his roles.
“I’m thinking of the Japanese market, the Korean market, Australia and out into Asia. These were players that were untapped and you’re now seeing other clubs trying to tap into that.”
Rodgers admits Postecoglou’s success last season - coupled with his own back-to-back treble campaigns - has left him facing huge expectations at the start of his second stint in charge. But he believes he can deliver another domestic trophy haul while also helping the club to punch above its weight in Europe.
The man who led Leicester to the last four of the Europa Conference League said: “That is a realistic aim for a club this size. You only need to see what West Ham achieved this season. You always need to have that level of ambition. We have to set ourselves that ambition.
“The expectations domestically, are big. Coming back here I think there’s a great level of expectation on myself, purely because of what I achieved before and obviously how I left. I can deal with that, there is no problem. That’s what I thrive on.”
Meanwhile, Kyogo has given a huge hint to Rodgers that he will not have his head turned by a move to England – because he has a Champions League score to settle. The prolific Japanese striker didn’t score in the competition and is desperate to rectify that so he can follow in the footsteps of Celtic icon, Shunsuke Nakamura.
“I am very happy to be part of this big club and to play against the biggest clubs in the world,” he said. “This season we will also get the opportunity to play in the Champions League, so just even the thought of playing in that atmosphere excites me so much. I want to do everything I can to get the win for the team and put a smile on everyone’s face.”
