THEY have done big business off the park.
Brendan Rodgers reckons it shows Celtic mean business on it.
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The Hoops landed striker Adam Idah in a £9.5million deal from Norwich this week.
He was the frontman Rodgers wanted following his nine goals, including a Scottish Cup final winner against Rangers, during a loan spell last season.
Only Odsonne Edouard has cost the club more and boss Rodgers insists their spending is a statement of intent.
He said: “If you look at it from a supporter’s perspective, I think what they want from the club is two things.
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“One, is your club well run? There’s no doubt, the club is super-well run and the organisation is very good.
“Two, I think supporters want to have the best team possible on the pitch. That allows them to skip back to each game really excited about watching them.
“That’s the challenge — to get to the end of this window and have the very best team we possibly can on the field. That’s what supporters want so hopefully we can do that.
“I say hope — I want us to be able to do that.”
Idah, 23, could come into the reckoning for tomorrow’s Premier Sports Cup clash against Hibs with Kyogo Furuhashi a doubt after he dislocated his shoulder again.
There were some raised eyebrows over just how much the Hoops forked out on Idah.
But Rodgers reckons it will be money well spent — and admits they could spend the same again this window.
He said: “You can never win, can you? You don’t spend money, you do spend money, you spend too much.
“We’ve got a great deal. Adam has huge potential. He has all the talent. He’s 6ft 3in, he’s quick, he’s strong, his touch is good. He can score goals. He has big moments and big games.
“There are still areas he can improve on. But whatever money we paid for him, he’s worth every penny and he’ll demonstrate that in the next 24 months. He’ll be worth a lot more.
“If you spend £18m on nine players, I would hope there’s a possibility to spend £18m on three players. That’s £6m each.
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“Our model is to bring in young players to develop, but you can bring young players in to develop at a higher level.
“Then you know more of what you’re getting and there’s maybe a higher ceiling.
“You might be able to bring in one or two more at that level. I think we can do that. It’s just about getting the right player.”
Earlier this year, Rodgers urged the Parkhead board to be braver in the transfer market.
And he said: “It’s the attitude to risk. You can sign a player for one, two million pounds. You might sell them for ten million.
“But you can sign a player for seven or eight, maybe sell them for 30 to 40.
“It’s the same thing. But it’s really trusting the process and trusting a team of people who can work very hard then allowing you to get the players in.”
Idah has insisted he’s not a back-up to Kyogo and Rodgers sees it that way too.
Rodgers said: “I’ll make it clear. I see them both as No 1 strikers. Kyogo has been brilliant. He’s started the season really well, but you can’t rely on someone for 55 to 60 games a season.
“We want to go deep in as many of the competitions as we can. That will take us to a number of games and you can’t have one striker to do that.
“I wanted another guy who I can call a No 1 striker. That’s what I feel I have.
“Depending on the game, the energy in the team, the circumstances of the match or the fixture list, having those two is a big asset for us.
“What you sometimes never know in recruitment is the mentality of a player. Adam proved to me he has that big game and big club mentality.
“I thank the board for getting Adam because I think that, over the next two to three years, he can flourish and show the quality he has. He’s in an environment where he’ll improve.”
Mark Lawwell left his role as head of recruitment in March and his position still hasn’t been filled.
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Rodgers admits it’s an area that will be looked at in the months ahead.
He said: “We need to improve that. The people who are here are absolutely fantastic. But it’s still an area I think we can review after the window and see where, like every department, we can improve.
“Alongside your playing, management and coaching staff, your recruitment department is key. If you don’t get that right, they can be very costly mistakes.”
Midfielder Matt O’Riley looks set to leave Parkhead before the window closes, with Italian side Atalanta desperate to get a deal over the line.
But Rodgers insists the anticipated £25m fee won’t determine what other business is done, with plenty of money in the bank.
He said: “No, I don’t think so. Financially we’re in a really good place. I think the sale of anyone shouldn’t have to determine what we do.
“We need to strengthen in certain areas and we have the resource to do that.”
Celtic crashed out of the Premier Sports Cup to Kilmarnock this time last year as Rodgers’ record of winning every trophy he has competed for in Scotland ended early into his second spell.
He added: “We were disappointed last season. In my first spell I had this ball and chain around me in terms of winning trophies and everything else.
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“From that point and moving forward, we’ve progressed and developed. The team’s in a much better place now.
“The first time I was up here, I felt this competition brings a nice edge early on, rather than having to wait until later in the season before you can win a trophy.”
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