Rodgers sought another Toure to bolster defence but could not snare one
BRENDAN Rodgers refuses to apologise for Celtic’s failure to recruit a new centre-back before the transfer deadline. The Parkhead boss approaches Tuesday’s Champions League opener against Paris Saint-Germain with only one fit and established central defender, in the shape of Jozo Simunovic.
Both Dedryck Boyata and Erik Sviatchenko are due to step up their comebacks from injury in training today but neither will be considered for PSG, meaning Rodgers will have to consider using Mikael Lustig, Nir Bitton or youngster Kristoffer Ajer against Neymar and Co.
A deal for 20-year-old South African starlet Rivaldo Coetzee collapsed after a medical revealed a foot problem but Rodgers admits that what he really coveted during the window was an experienced figure in the mould of Kolo Toure, who stepped in to shore up the backline at the start of last season.
A move for England international Phil Jagielka was mooted and quickly discounted on account of the player’s wage expectations and enhanced first-team prospects under Ronald Koeman at Everton. So was a fresh loan move for Jason Denayer, who spent a year on loan at Parkhead from Manchester City under Ronny Deila.
‘I tried to get Denayer but it was too late,’ said Rodgers. ‘He had committed to going back to Turkey three months ago.
‘I wanted someone with experience who would come in and play, a wee bit similar to what Kolo did last year.
‘But the availability wasn’t there. There are hardly any of them about. Now, teams are hanging on to them, boys like Phil Jagielka and guys like that.
‘He was perfect but he is playing. He would be amazing for us but he is playing for Everton. There are not so many of them about.
‘So why stop the growth of your own players to bring in someone who is a short-term fix? I would rather develop my own.’ Elsewhere in
Sportsmail, Scott Sinclair has expressed his hope that the exposure of Champions League football could aid his prospects of a call-up to the England squad.
Sinclair thrived under Rodgers at Swansea and earned an £8million transfer to Manchester City on the back of his English Premier League exploits. The Parkhead boss insists the 28-year-old retains all his ability and should be in contention for a cap but history tells him Scottish football is not always viewed with credibility south of the border. And he uses examples of former players of both Celtic and Rangers to make his point. ‘That’s always been the case,’ he said. ‘I know that from being in England many years, players like Alan Thompson not getting the chances he should have for England even though he was playing Champions League football. It was the same with Mark Hateley when he was doing well for Rangers. ‘So there has always been that and it doesn’t go away but there’s still an incredible environment here to play in and work in. It’s one that leaves me happy and actually leads to seeing the fruits of your work, which is player development.’
Despite the prevailing view in England, Rodgers has succeeded in not only luring Sinclair to Celtic in a £3.5m transfer from Aston Villa but also in persuading French Under-21 internationalist Moussa Dembele that his career can be best progressed in Glasgow.
And he believes that has now opened a potential transfer pathway to the very top of the English game.
‘If you think of (Victor) Wanyama and (Virgil) van Dijk, when they left Celtic they had to go to the mid-Premier League,’ he said. ‘I think it’s clear that if Kieran Tierney left he wouldn’t have to do that. He could go straight into a top club.
‘And I think the example of what Dembele did in coming here — agents are now saying: “Okay, he went there, to a huge club, where he’s dealing with expectation, getting the chance to be a winner — and play Champions League — that can be a great option”.’