Brendan Rodgers Transfer Words Come Back to Haunt Him at Celtic

Brendan Rodgers did not have his troubles to seek this summer as Celtic manager.

The Hoops were slow and somewhat reactive in the transfer market, to the point where the club failed to land more than one of their major targets including Kasper Dolberg.

Striker Adam Idah was allowed to leave Celtic without a recognised replacement for him as he moved to Swansea City in the EFL Championship.

Eventually Rodgers would land Kelechi Iheanacho on a free once the window had closed while wingers Sebastian Tounekti and Michel-Ange Balikwisha joined.

But it was a poor window and fans have been livid ever since with protests and banners planned for their next game.

Rodgers, however, finds himself in a really unfortunate spot with the window now shut and that is because of one player who recently told the Irishman he wanted to leave the Parkhead club.

Brendan Rodgers’ stance on wantaway Celtic players comes back to bite him

We told you how Daizen Maeda alerted his manager to his desire to seek a fresh challenge with at least one club making a bid late on this summer.

Rodgers and the club hierarchy had considered Maeda’s request to leave but ultimately had to opt against selling their prized Japanese asset, 27, after they failed to bring in enough cover during what was the disappointing business done by the higher-ups.

Maeda had an offer from a club in the Bundesliga and claims he had already agreed personal terms with only a fee to be greenlit for Celtic to let him go.

And now comments from Rodgers have re-emerged which leave the boss in a tricky situation given the Maeda transfer hiccup.

Back in January – after Kyogo was sold to Rennes having told Celtic he wanted to leave – Rodgers was clear in his assessment of wantaway players.

Kyogo would eventually be moved on to Rennes for a £10million fee which looked decent business for a 30-year-old striker who had given four years to the Scottish Premiership giants.

Daizen Maeda asked to leave Celtic

But now, with Maeda also asking to leave, Rodgers’ comments from the last window back in January about stars who “don’t want to be here” have been used by the fanbase as yet another stick to beat the boardroom with.

Asked at the time if Celtic were prepared for Kyogo’s departure, Rodgers said: “With all these what-if scenarios, you have to be.

“I think the biggest thing is if a player doesn’t want to be here, then go.

“And then it’s at that point, then the club has to get the best possible deal.

“So I don’t ever see the point of keeping someone who doesn’t want to be here.

“But I think for us, it’s all eventualities.

“That’s what we prepare for, whether it’s injuries, whether it’s transfers. I think you just have to, you always have to be ready and that’s our message.”