Celtic fans don’t really know what to make of Brendan Rodgers’ comments about the potential signing of Marian Shved this week.
The Hoops boss confirmed that the club were in talks to sign the Ukrainian international but appeared to be less than enthusiastic about his imminent arrival, suggesting he was a player that will benefit the club in the summer and beyond.
As quoted by The Daily Mail, Rodgers said: “I can’t say I know a great deal about him but what I have seen he is a talent and something that will probably benefit the club in the future. We’ve got about a million wingers and don’t need another one but he’s a talent and in the summer we’ll probably lose wingers and he’ll look to come in. It’s an opportunity for the club to sign a young talented player but not one that will probably help us now.”
Shved is an emerging star in his homeland and offers attacking threat on the right flank and through the middle, both areas of the pitch the club have plenty of depth in, so Rodgers’ comments are fairly truthful.
However, it’s not usually the kind of chat a buying manager has about an incoming signing, leading some to suggest this move is one not entirely sanctioned by Rodgers himself.
Others have debated whether these kind of comments point towards the manager potentially leaving in the summer.
Supporters took to Twitter this week to discuss it all…
Rodgers’ comment about Shved is strange. We have loads of wingers but Hayes and Morgan won’t cut it, Arzani is on loan/injured and Weah and Burke are also on loan. Only Forrest, Sinclair and Johnston likely to be in and around the first team come the end of May.
— Kieran (@Kieran_Celtic) January 23, 2019
Listening to the whole interview, Shved isn’t a Rodgers signing. He will be forced on him by the sounds of it. I’d say BR sounded very frustrated.. Understandable if he’s wanting to bring in players for other positions ie RB or CB
— Chris O’Neill (@oneill_38) January 24, 2019
I find his whole attitude toward players/transfers quite strange. Distances himself from it as if he has no say in the matter. The only signings I remember him being really involved in and talking about wanting to sign was Scott Sinclair & Moussa. He seems so passive on the rest.
— 𝙀𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙣𝙚 (@EtienneBojan) January 23, 2019
https://twitter.com/Emrod_lives/status/1088344079715438592
https://twitter.com/aidanarr_67/status/1088364807361908737
https://twitter.com/marcmcardle1/status/1088242104877359104
Strange remarks by Rodgers when asked about shved said contact made but then said one for future if signed as we have numerous wingers as it is
— Gearóid Galavan (@ggalavan) January 23, 2019
Brendan Rodgers continuing to push his own agenda. Embarrassing considering how poor his signings have been overall, he clearly wants to leave in the summer.
— Tom Glancey (@tomglancey) January 24, 2019