Once again, doubts have surfaced regarding Brendan Rodgers’ involvement in Celtic’s summer transfer dealings, prompting discussions about his level of control in these matters.

During the recent AGM, the Celtic manager asserted that he held ultimate authority over incoming player acquisitions. However, this statement was called into question by Peter Martin, who claimed it was an “absolute fact” that Rodgers did not personally select all the players during the summer transfer window.

Adding to the debate, Mark Guidi expressed his belief that Rodgers acquiesced to the summer transfer activities based on his confidence in the existing squad’s ability to win the league. Guidi questioned whether Rodgers had been sufficiently hands-on or assertive in shaping the transfer strategy, suggesting that failure to improve the situation by the upcoming January window might jeopardize Rodgers’ position.

While it may appear that Rodgers has control over Celtic’s transfers based on his own statements, it is essential to consider the circumstances. The timing of several signings shortly after Rodgers’ official announcement raises questions about his capacity to thoroughly evaluate and approve these acquisitions, especially given the global reach of some of the signings, involving players from Australia and South Korea.

Rodgers officially took charge on June 19th this year, and within a short span, several players, including Oding Thiago Holm, Marco Tilio, Hyeokkyu Kwon, and Hyunjun Yang, were signed. The expedited nature of these signings raises concerns about Rodgers’ ability to fully assess the existing squad while simultaneously evaluating potential incoming talent.

Although Rodgers maintains that he has the final say on transfers, he must also shoulder the responsibility for these decisions, particularly if reports indicating the imminent departure of at least four new arrivals next month prove accurate. In this light, the summer transfer window could be deemed a disappointment for Celtic, underscoring the need for critical examination and potential improvements in future transfer activities.