Brendan Rodgers in 'awkward' Celtic stand-off as summer rests on Kairat clash - Finance expert
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(Credit: Imago / Getty Images)
Ben Palmer
Tue 26 August 2025 17:08, UK
Celtic may miss out on their priority transfer targets this summer if they cannot qualify for the Champions League.
That is according to football finance expert Dan Plumley, who told Football Insider exclusively that until Champions League qualification was confirmed, the Hoops find themselves stuck in a waiting game.
Brendan Rodgers has been vocal in his disdain at Celtic’s transfer business so far this summer.
The Hoops have lost Nicolas Kuhn to Como and Greg Taylor on a free transfer to PAOK in Greece, and have spent little on their replacements.
With Jota continuing to recover from a devastating injury picked up at the back end of last season, Celtic have looked limp in attack and failed to score in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier against Kairat Almaty.
Mick Brown told Football Insider that Brendan Rodgers could quit Celtic and return to the Premier League, especially if the Nottingham Forest job becomes available.
But the Northern Irishman may be the decider of his own fate, with the Hoops’ summer business dependent on their result against Kairat.
Jota suffered a devastating knee injury at the end of last season.
(Credit Imago)
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This article contains exclusive comment from Dan Plumley, a football finance expert and senior lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Plumley explained that Celtic were waiting to find out if they would have the revenue boost of Champions League football before pursuing their first-choice targets.
The finance expert said: “The timing’s awkward on that, but it is the same for a lot of clubs in and around that qualifier mix.
“Their opponents will be doing the same.
Celtic will be doing the same, there’s loads of other clubs that will be doing the same.
Nicolas Kuhn departed Celtic this summer.
“And you’ll be doing some of those early conversations, of course you will.
“You’re not going to not pick up the phone until the 28th of August, but it will dictate which kind of market you go into, and there’ll be a lot of clubs in Europe that are in the same boat at the minute, just waiting to see what happens with the qualifying situation.”
Should they beat Kairat and qualify for the Champions League, there is likely to be a flurry of activity from the Hoops in the last few days of the transfer window.
Calvin Stengs is a target for Celtic, Pete O’Rourke told Football Insider exclusively.
Calvin Stengs is a target for Celtic this summer.
(Credit: Imago)
Rodgers’ side is preparing to submit an offer for the winger after he scored once and assisted three times in an injury-hit campaign last season.
With Stengs’ asking price likely to be lowered due to his injury issues, Celtic may be keen to make a move with their right wing lacking depth since Kuhn’s departure.
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