Brendan Rodgers sent coded transfer message and it wasn’t meant for the Celtic fans – Chris Sutton

Brendan Rodgers was addressing the Celtic supporters when he was asked about transfers over in the United States.

But the message he delivered was for the Parkhead board. Rodgers can be very cute with his communication at times and sometimes it leaves room to read between the lines.

By name-checking chief executive Michael Nicolson and chief finance officer Chris McKay when asked for the state of play by the Scottish newspaper journalists in America, it’s hard not to think there was another message being delivered. Rodgers basically said he was doing his part with the squad and it was now over to them to deliver the new signings. I’m not sure if it’s applying a bit of pressure, but it’s definitely a sense of, ‘right, it’s over to you guys’. They do need to get to work. Celtic have looked sharp in pre-season but we all know they are still short in vital areas of the team.

They only have one striker on the books right now in Kyogo and Rodgers also said he wants two more. We know Adam Idah is the main one he wants back but another one is required and you’d think it would be a young prospect or even a loan player. You also look at left back, centre half, the midfield and perhaps also out wide.

Nicolas Kuhn has looked a much more encouraging prospect in pre-season after failing to do it consistently last term. He would outstanding against Man City, even if he was up against a young full back who struggled with Pep Guardiola’s system.

Two goals and a superb assist for Kyogo is not to be sniffed at though and he could play a bigger part this year. Who knows what will happen with Yang and Mikey Johnston but Celtic could do with reinforcements all over the pitch. They’ve made good moves in the goalkeeper department with Kasper