Celtic are currently riding high at the top of the Scottish Premiership, unbeaten domestically in all competitions and well placed to deliver another league title.
Rodgers is heading into only his second transfer window and still has lots of rebuilding to do at the club if he’s to take them to the heights that Celtic fans believe they can reach.
A key part of the Hoops’ transfer strategy over the next few windows will be attracting the best talent available within the Scottish Premiership. All of Rodgers’ signings so far have come from English football, with the Northern Irishman not yet dipping his toes in markets beyond his knowledge.
In the past, signings from rival clubs have made a massive impact at Celtic Park and there’s as much potential division now as ever.
Current first-team players signed from other Scottish clubs include Scott Brown, Stuart Armstrong and Leigh Griffiths – all key men for Celtic on their day.
Here are FIVE more Scottish Premiership talents that Rodgers should be looking to sign in January.
Souleymane Coulibaly
Souleymane Coulibaly has been a sensation for Kilmarnock since joining in the summer, scoring ten goals in his first 19 appearances for the club.
It was the above absolute belter against Celtic that really made him hit headlines north of the border, though – an effort which bamboozled goalkeeper Dorus de Vries and sailed into the net from 40 yards.
It wasn’t a one off and the Ivorian youth international has, at times, single-handedly been winning points for Killie. At just 21, he’s still developing as a footballer and is one to watch not just for Celtic, but clubs down south too.
Louis Moult
Louis Moult is another who knows how to find the net against Celtic. He was the player who ended their 13+ hours of football without conceding a goal with a sensational volleyed lob that left Craig Gordon stranded last week.
Like Coulibaly, he isn’t just doing it in one off games, and has scored ten goals in 13 so far this season. Added to his 18 in 2015/16, he’s showing a level of consistency that could be useful for a club like Celtic, especially when the Bhoys only have Nadir Ciftci to call upon should Leigh Griffiths and Moussa Dembele become unavailable.
Kenny McLean
Kenny McLean has been one of the Scottish Premiership’s most consistent performers for five or six years now, excelling at St Mirren as a teenager through to his current spell at Aberdeen.
Still just 24, he’s a midfielder who can stamp his authority on a game. He was outclassed in the recent Scottish League Cup final but has, in the past, more than held his own against Celtic.
With 38 career goals, he also knows how to find the back of the net from midfield. Should Rodgers feel the need to add competition to his central area, then McLean might prove to have the potential to reach even greater heights.
Callum Paterson
Hearts’ right-back star Callum Paterson is undoubtedly one of the league’s best prospects. At the age of 22, he’s already won five caps for Scotland and is being tipped to win many more.
Incredibly he started his career as a striker and played many games there for Hearts. But, he has transformed himself into a powerful full-back who can defend robustly yet get forward with pace.
Celtic could do with some competition on the right side of defence with Mikael Lustig having his share of injury problems throughout the years and Cristian Gamboa as of yet not making a great impact.
Scott Bain
Outside of Craig Gordon, Scott Bain is probably the best goalkeeper in the Scottish Premiership. He’s conceded many goals against Celtic but has kept out about as many.
He starred at Celtic Park earlier this year, making a string of saves to deny the Hoops a victory against Dundee in a 0-0 draw.
Still just 25, he could potentially be a goalkeeper at Celtic for the next decade. With both Craig Gordon and Dorus de Vries well into their thirties, he provides a different option and one with plenty of potential.
