Brendan Rodgers set Celtic transfer mandate for Champions League as John Collins reveals gnawing fear

Concerned John Collins is worried Celtic could face a mass exodus of players this summer as they prepare for the Champions League.

And the former Parkhead hero has tasked Brendan Rodgers with keeping a key trio at the Scottish Premiership champions this season - while also adding players who are ready-made for Europe's elite competition. The Irishman has put a major focus on achievements in Europe next season after returning to Celtic Park and the club will be catapulted into the Champions League group stage again next term.

Rodgers also took Leicester City into the Europa League and Conference League and alluded to those two competitions as a potential path to success for Celtic going forward. But Collins has major fears that the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, Reo Hatate and Callum McGregor could be tempted with a move away from Glasgow's east end amid the Rodgers' revolution.

The club have prided themselves on their player trading model in recent seasons - with CEO Michael Nicholson admitting at Rodgers' unveling that they would stick with the format this summer. Collins reckons it would be a massive blow to their Euro ambitions to lose the key trio, telling BBC Sportsound: "Brendan might be worried, and I'm worried, if they get bids for players.

"I think that is something Celtic will be crossing their fingers about - that Kyogo doesn't go, or Hatate and Callum McGregor. I think those are the players that they might get bids for, but fingers crossed they keep them. They key for Brendan is signings. You have got to sign players that are going to get into the team and make the team better.

"I think that is what Celtic fans want to see - one or two that go straight into the team and are Champions League quality players.