Brendan Rodgers swerving 'toxic' Celtic transfer energy but insists squad still short on quality and numbers

Brendan Rodgers insists he won't get bogged down in the "toxic and negative" energy he feels surrounds transfer talk at Celtic, but admits his squad is still short heading into the opening weekend of the season.

Paulo Bernardo - not fit for Sunday's Premiership opener against Kilmarnock - is back on a five-year deal, the Portuguese becoming Rodgers' only outfield signing of the summer so far after the additions of goalkeepers Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo. At least one new striker is high on his wanted list, with a deal for Norwich frontman Adam Idah thought to be inching closer after his successful loan spell last season.

The Hoops recruitment was criticised last season, both in the summer and January, with many interpreting comments from Rodgers as messages to the board in a bid to convey his dissatisfaction publicly. But the Irishman insists he's staying out of any negativity when it comes to new recruits this season, focusing on improving the players he has while being clear on what needs to arrive before the window closes.

"It's always about quality," he told Sky Sports. "That's that's key. We had a good squad last season but we needed to improve on that. Thus far we're short, even on those numbers. Paulo coming back is great but we're still short on that.

"The guys have been working so hard behind the scenes and we know what we need to do. I'm not going to get bogged down in the negative and toxic energy that comes around transfers. We'll work with the players that we have. We know we'll make them better. We know as a club what we need to do and what we need to improve and we have just under four weeks to be able to do that."