Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers could turn to the Sky Bet Championship this summer in search of reinforcements across the squad.
The story of the window so far has been the Irishman’s pursuit of Norwich City striker Adam Idah, who is back at Norwich City following a successful loan stint at Parkhead last term.
Meanwhile, Football Scotland claim Coventry City midfielder Jack Rudoni was on the radar of the Scottish Premiership champions before completing his move to the West Midlands from Huddersfield Town.
Although the 23-year-old didn’t end up at Celtic, the rumour does indicate that the club may look to shop for talent in the English second tier.
In light of this, there are a few considerations Rodgers may want to keep in mind should he identify other targets from the division.
Celtic and the Sky Bet Championship market
Idah is a prime example of the quality that can be found in the English Championship, even if his stay at the club does prove to be short-lived.
There was a lot of confusion when Celtic acquired the 23-year-old on loan back in January; however, he soon changed perceptions and played a critical role in helping the Bhoys to a domestic double triumph.
Besides his situation, what are the merits of Celtic looking to this particular market for players? Well, the appeal of winning regular silverware and playing in the Champions League is paramount.
Ultimately, for a lot of individuals from this league, the Hoops may be seen as an ideal stepping stone to work their way into the thoughts of Premier League sides. That isn’t me being negative; I’m just pointing out the manner in which many up-and-coming stars with no connection to Celtic may think.
On the flip side, this argument is sometimes made redundant. Visibility in the English second tier has went up due to the EFL’s extensive coverage on Sky Sports. In turn, so has the financial capital distributed among teams that can be used to retain assets.
That is before you even consider the parachute payments teams receive when dropping into the division from the top flight. In short, Championship teams are in a position to keep their best players, and the top clubs have the money to match Celtic’s wage structure.
Many Premier League scouts also have their eye on the league for prodigious homegrown talent, and those affected can drive a hard bargain in the face of interest from elsewhere.
The Bhoys haven’t visited this market too regularly over the past few years, but if that changes this summer, there are a few tell-tale signs to look out for.