Petrov expects manager to keep adding quality to Bhoys squad
Stiliyan Petrov expects Brendan Rodgers to be happy with his squad by the time their Premiership campaign starts on August 3.
The Hoops gaffer has made it clear he wants extra quality brought in and has been linked with several strikers and wingers.
Kieran Tierney has arrived as well as Swedish attacking midfielder Benjamin Nygren, Japanese pair Hyato Inamura and Shin Yamada, Fulham striker Callum Osmand and goalkeeper Ross Doohan. More should follow. Parkhead legend Petrov is excited about how things will go in the coming weeks and told The Sunday Post: “I expect the transfer market to really heat up around Europe in the next week.
“Every club is now back in training and managers want to get their targets signed and sealed as quickly as possible. “Brendan will be no different in that aspect. He’ll want to get to work with the new lads right away.
“Getting new signings integrated is very important. “Kieran and Benjamin are in and everyone can see they are quality.
“Kieran was a brilliant servant to Celtic a few years ago and was always a stand-out. He’s now at an age where he is coming into the best four or five years of his career. That’s an exciting prospect. “Benjamin appears to have settled and he will be keen to show what he can do on a regular basis.
“But it will not stop there. I expect others to come in.
“The supporters will hope to see new faces in by the time the SPFL League season starts against St Mirren in early August. I think that will happen.
“Lots of hard work will be going on behind the scenes and there will be plenty of dialogue with other clubs and agents. It’s just about trying to piece it all together.
“Transfers are rarely easy to get over the line. There are many different things to take into account – but there are enough things in Celtic’s favour to bring in the extra quality that everyone wants to see. “The team will want to get off to a good start in the League and not give Rangers any encouragement.
“There are also Champions League qualifiers next month and that is so important to Celtic.
“After the excellent progress that was made last season they will want to kick on and do well again. They will not want to drop down into the Europa League.
“We are well aware of the fantastic financial rewards on offer for being in the Champions League.
“That is great, but it is about the prestige for the manager and the players. They want to go up against the very best.
“It’s the same for the supporters. They love the Champions League theme tune on a midweek night under the floodlights. It gives everyone goosebumps. “But nothing can be taken for granted at any time. Tough opponents will face them and they will need to be at their very best to get a successful outcome.”
Petrov also hopes that Celts don’t lose any more players.
Nicolas Kuhn was sold to Como for £16 million. Clubs are still hovering over a few other top team stars, such as Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate.
Petrov said: “When you win trophies year in and year out and do well in Europe, your players will attract attention. That is only natural.
“But Celtic is a brilliant place to be and not too many footballers get the opportunity to play in front of 60,000 fans every other week.
“I accept there are a few other leagues stronger than the Premiership. There is an attraction , of course.
“I felt that many years ago when I wanted to try English football and signed for Aston Villa.
“But I feel Celtic is a really good place to be right now. There is so much to look forward to.
“Brendan is a top manager and he improves players. He loves to work on the grass on a daily basis and gets so much enjoyment out of his coaching sessions.
“The team is going for another league title and that will be five-in-a-row. So, what’s not to like? “The new season will be here before we know it and the real business will be underway.
“I hope the Celtic squad is settled by then and the manager knows what he has to work with. “He can then go on with the business of trying to be successful and win more trophies. That’s what he loves to do and that’s what the supporters want to see him delivering.”