Celtic's 4 part transfer model 'revealed' as prototype signing deals Brendan Rodgers a Champions League handicap

Celtic have reportedly deployed a transfer policy with four key facets - and it's limiting Brendan Rodgers' ability to compete financially with their Champions League rivals.

The Hoops have had far more hits than misses on the signing front in recent years with their policy delivering success on the pitch and raking in millions by selling players on for vast profits. Their summer recruitment hasn't quite hit the heights of the Ange Postecoglou era, where Jota, Kyogo and Cameron Carter-Vickers were among the resounding success stories, but stars like Luis Palma and Paulo Bernardo have shown plenty of promise.

They made nine signings in the summer and most fit the transfer 'prototype' which the Daily Mail's Stephen McGowan laid out. He claims the model used to recruit in the summer focused on players aged between 18-23 who had some international recognition.

More poignantly though, at least where fans are concerned, is that it's claimed all of the summer signings were willing to accept between £10-16,000 per week and cost less than £5m - with Maik Nawrocki their most expensive arrival at £4.3m. That news comes amid concern from some fans that the club aren't spending enough on new players, and a further belief that a lack of spending is at least part of the reason they have struggled to compete in Europe.

Celtic were recently thumped 6-0 by Atletico Madrid in Spain and will be eliminated from Europe altogether unless they win their remaining two fixtures and Feyenoord don't pick up another point.