Hoops boss admits to club’s ‘limits’

Brendan Rodgers will continue to push for progress at Celtic but admits he has to “understand maybe where the limits are at times”.

Earlier in the week the Northern Irishman noted that departed midfielder Stuart Armstrong and winger Patrick Roberts had yet to be replaced and his fears that Celtic would lose out on target John McGinn were realised when the Hibernian midfielder signed for Aston Villa on Wednesday.

The Scottish champions have signed striker Odsonne Edouard from Paris St Germain – for a club record fee which is reportedly £9 million – and goalkeeper Scott Bain from Dundee, both of whom were on loan at Parkhead last season.

Asked if the board matches his ambitions, Rodgers said: “I wouldn’t answer that. It’s private.”

The former Swansea and Liverpool boss then said: “I have a huge respect for the people here who work at the club.

“The board of directors have created a very stable foundation here for the club to work under for a number of years.

“I have to respect that. Of course as a manager I always want the club to be the very best it can be, for the supporters.

“Inside I am a supporter at heart so I want to see the club progress but I am also the professional manager of the club and I have to understand maybe where the limits are at times.”

Rodgers does expect Australia international Daniel Arzani to soon sign on loan after the 19-year-old playmaker completed his move to Manchester City from partner club Melbourne City yesterday morning.

He is also hopeful that 32-year-old Honduras international Emilio Izaguirre will return to the club to provide cover for left-back Kieran Tierney.

Izaguirre is set to return to Celtic a year after leaving the Scottish champions for Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Fayha.