Celtic have been quiet on the transfer front so far, yet there is optimism that bodies will arrive to strengthen the group over the coming weeks.
John Kennedy indicated earlier today that movement will be seen over the coming weeks, which is cause for excitement among supporters.
He stated: “A lot of conversations have been taking place. We come back for pre-season, and hopefully, in the coming weeks, a few things will start to happen, but there’s a lot of plates spinning and a lot of work getting done.”
The main talking point at first-team level is the pursuit of a new goalkeeper; nevertheless, one or two links to individuals who would be seen as stars of the future have also cropped up recently in media circles.
Although they wouldn’t be catapulted into senior action immediately, there is room for optimism regarding long-term sustainability at Parkhead.
Celtic enter the market for young talent
Per reports, Celtic are said to be keen on Sogndal winger Edmund Aidoo, who has registered eight goals and six assists in 17 appearances across his fleeting career.
Similarly, the Bhoys have held talks with Middlesbrough youngster Ajay Matthews, also 18, a prolific striker at youth level that has struck 16 times in 17 starts in their Under-18 set-up.
If either were to join the Scottish Premiership champions, it is likely they would be drafted into the B team rather than immediately linking up with the senior side.
Nonetheless, both would come to the club with promising reputations and a chance to show their flair on a weekly basis under the guise of Lennoxtown staff. Instead of them developing elsewhere, having the pair learn their trade at Parkhead may help Brendan Rodgers fulfil one of his main prophecies since returning last year.
What Brendan Rodgers said about youth development at Celtic
Earlier in the month, we spoke about Celtic’s need to maximise their internal talent pool, referencing quotes from Rodgers claiming that promoting players from the academy set-up is set to be a defining point of his second spell in charge.
He said: “My life has always been about bringing young players through. We have got some really good, talented players. We have to create a pathway for them; that is the biggest thing. That is a real challenge at a big club, but I inherently believe in young players.”
Now, having that conveyor belt of exciting youngsters doesn’t always require going down the homegrown route.
Many of the world’s biggest clubs recruit early to stockpile prodigious starlets that have the chance to break through eventually, and if either sign on the dotted line, it could symbolise Celtic have decided to adopt the same approach. It is a practice that has been carried out several times before, Kristoffer Ajer being the most prominent example of recent times.
Ultimately, the Bhoys need to explore all avenues to find stars of the future, sell-on value and a pathway to introduce quality into the side while road mapping for the long term. This may be a way to do it with some balance, potentially saving a few million into the bargain.