Late Celtic transfer splurge is NOT ideal scenario as Rodgers issues rallying cry amid O'Riley exit

Brendan Rodgers admits it is NOT an ideal scenario for Celtic to have 'so much business' to get done in the final days of the window.

The Hoops gaffer confirmed fans' favourite Matt O'Riley - who is not part of the squad in Paisley to face St Mirren - is currently at Brighton to complete medical checks ahead of a Scottish record transfer move. The champions are set to bank a monster fee with supporters desperate to see the money reinvested before the wheeling and dealing is over as they get ready to compete both domestically and in the newly revamped Champions League.

Rodgers concedes although the situation he faces over bringing in a number of new faces across a number of positions is not ideal, there is still time to get them done and he hopes to get new bodies into Lennoxtown ahead of what he describes as a 'really long season' from September onwards.

On possible incomings, Rodgers commented: "Hopefully, hopefully. Ideal scenario is we wouldn't be having to do so much business in the last week, however there's still that time for us to do something and improve the squad.

"I have said before I am really happy with the players that we have. It is a real privilege to manage and coach them. They've been absolutely superb in my time here and none more so than the beginning of this season since we have come back. We want to keep the momentum and level going. Players will always come and go at Celtic but the team, the structure of the team and the way we play will always remain the same.

"Hopefully over the course of this next week, we can get some players in that can give us strength in depth in the squad because after September we've got a really long season."

On O'Riley, he added: "He'll be down in Brighton, completing