DANNY BHOY
Rodgers wants striker Graham as he makes Davies his No 2
BRENDAN RoDgERs wants to make sunderland striker Danny graham one of his first signings for Celtic.
The Parkhead boss last night appointed Reading coach Chris Davies as his assistant manager, after the pair worked together at swansea and Liverpool. And Rodgers wants to renew another working relationship from his time at the Liberty stadium in the shape of 30-year-old Englishman graham.
The pair enjoyed success at Watford before Rodgers signed him for swansea for £3.5million.
A £5m switch to the stadium of Light worked less well, graham spending much of his four-year contract on loan at other clubs.
A haul of seven goals in 18 games at Blackburn Rovers in the second half of last season, however, has made a Bosman swoop for the player an attractive proposition to Preston North End, Wigan and Birmingham City. And Sportsmail understands Rodgers is investigating whether graham would accept less than his current £35,000 a week wages at sunderland to move to the sPFL, with strike reinforcements a priority position due to the likely departures of Carlton Cole and stefan scepovic.
Rodgers made his first official move as Celtic
manager yesterday with the capture of Davies as his No 2. ‘I am delighted to bring Chris to Celtic,’ Rodgers told the Celtic website. ‘He is a magnificent coach and someone I know will make a hugely positive contribution to the club. ‘He is ready and prepared for the challenge at Celtic and I know that Chris, like myself, can’t wait to get going for next season. ‘He has worked with me previously. He is someone I know and trust, and he will be a great addition to my team and to the club.’ Davies insists he was ‘proud’ to land the role as assistant manager at Parkhead, saying: ‘Celtic is a huge club with such a special place in world football. ‘It is a great honour and a proud moment for me to be named assistant manager.’ After watching 13,000 Celtic fans turn up for the unveiling of the new manager on Monday, Davies admitted: ‘I saw the scenes at Celtic Park on Monday and there are not many clubs or fans in the world who could have put on such a show. ‘I have worked with Brendan over a number of years, as a player and a coach, and it will be fantastic to work with him again. ‘I know all about his affection for Celtic and his appetite for taking on this great job.’ Davies, 31, also revealed that Rodgers has been one of the biggest influences in his life. Rodgers was academy director at Reading when Davies was a promising young footballer but, like his mentor, he had to retire from the game early through injury and moved into coaching. After he had done his coaching badges and a sports science degree, the new Celtic boss gave him his chance at Swansea and then Liverpool. ‘He’s probably the single biggest influence in my life, behind my parents,’ Davies said of Rodgers. ‘He’s influenced my work in terms of professionalism and detail, and just generally with work ethic.’