Chris Sutton has suggested Celtic fans and the media are voicing legitimate concerns after Brendan Rodgers avoided discussing the "toxic" issues surrounding the club's summer transfer business.
The reigning Scottish Premiership champions have made just three signings ahead of their title defence getting underway against Kilmarnock on Sunday. Goalkeepers Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo, plus midfielder Paulo Bernardo have been the only arrivals, leaving several key positions unaddressed.
Rodgers is looking for a left-back to compete with Greg Taylor. Wolves' Hugo Bueno and Owen Beck from Liverpool are believed to be the guys on their radar.
The Celtic manager has also expressed a strong desire to sign Adam Idah permanently after a fruitful loan spell during the second half of the previous Double-winning campaign, but negotiations with Norwich City have stalled, with Idah currently on the Canaries bench for their pre-season friendly against St. Pauli today.
Sutton is puzzled by the slow progress in transfers, especially since Kyogo Furuhashi is their only fit striker.
"I'm not sure I understood what Rodgers was saying yesterday about negative toxic energy that comes around transfers", he said.
"Fans and media are merely saying the squad needs to be improved, which is exactly the same as the manager is saying himself. That's not toxic or negative, it's just pointing out the facts. Rodgers says Celtic need to improve and that's all anyone else has said.
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"I understand it's not easy getting deals done but Celtic were still piecing themselves together going into their first game against Feyenoord last season and you really don't want that to be happening again.
"Of course the market scenario means there are going to be deals done in the final days, even hours, of the window. That's just the nature of the business and no one has any qualms about that. But those deals should be the finishing touches, the icing on the cake."
The Hoops hero went on to tell the Daily Record: "The majority of the squad who are going to be going into the elite competition should be in place some weeks before the campaign on the continent even kicks off.
"It's hard enough trying to get results at the highest level without trying to do it on the hoof, as Celtic did last season. That was understandable, I said so. Rodgers was only just back in the door and there was always going to be a bit of a transition. But that's not the case this time around.
"When Celtic won the Scottish Cup Final through Adam Idah's goal, Rodgers openly stated straight after he wanted the Irish striker's services on a permanent agreement. Negotiations can be tricky but I find it baffling Celtic have completed their pre-season programme of fixtures with him not in the door.
"Same for Paulo Bernardo. He should have been in the USA playing against DC United, Manchester City and Chelsea and getting up to speed with the team, instead of signing less than three days before the Premiership begins.
"Keepers Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo are in but outfield-wise Celtic are weaker now than when leaving Hampden after the Cup Final. Rodgers has talked about not snoozing and he is right. And what needs to happen needs to happen faster, if in any way possible."
