Celtic can sign new Rogic in move for “special” star who’s “like Odegaard”

Celtic supervisor Brendan Rodgers will certainly be delighted with the spectacular efficiency degree of his group all through the 2024/25 marketing campaign up to now.

The Hoops stay unbeaten within the Scottish Premiership, high of the desk by 14 factors, with 16 wins from 18 matches forward of the Outdated Agency conflict with Rangers on this afternoon.

They’ve additionally already received the League Cup, beating their Glasgow rivals on penalties within the last at Hampden Park, after they didn’t safe the trophy final season.

The group’s unbelievable type throughout all competitions this time period, nonetheless, has not stopped Rodgers from wanting so as to add new gamers to the squad through the January switch window, which formally opened for enterprise earlier this week.

Celtic’s supervisor is reportedly searching for a reunion with Scotland worldwide Kieran Tierney, with the membership stated to be eyeing up a pre-contract settlement to signal him in the summertime on a free switch from Arsenal – the facet that signed him from the Hoops in 2019.

The Gunners left-back is considered one of many stars who persistently carried out for Rodgers throughout his first spell in cost at Parkhead, and one other a type of gamers was midfielder Tom Rogic.

Tom Rogic’s type for Brendan Rodgers

The Northern Irish head coach spent just below three years in Glasgow throughout his first stint on the membership between the summer time of 2016 and early 2019, earlier than his transfer to Leicester Metropolis.

In that point, Rogic made 105 appearances for Rodgers in the course of the park, which locations him inside the high ten for appearances as a Celtic participant for the supervisor – with Tierney, Callum McGregor, and James Forrest included within the 9 spots forward of him.

This illustrates how a lot religion the Hoops boss had in him, as he was an everyday fixture within the group throughout these three years, to carry out week-in-week-out throughout all competitions.

Rogic, who left the membership in the summertime of 2022 and retired a yr later, was a left-footed central or attacking midfielder who appeared to influence matches by stepping up with objectives and assists for his group.

As you possibly can see within the desk above, the Australia worldwide made a constant influence within the last third as each a scorer and a creator of objectives all through Rodgers’ time on the membership.

Rogic was a confirmed performer who might be relied upon to step up on the high finish of the pitch, and the supervisor discovered his new model of him in Matt O’Riley, who scored 18 objectives and supplied 13 assists within the league, final season.

The Danish wizard, in fact, left to hitch Brighton & Hove Albion in the summertime and Rodgers is again on the seek for one other left-footed magician to gentle up his midfield, with reported curiosity in a Rogic-esque midfielder from the Premier League.

Celtic’s curiosity in Premier League ace

It was not too long ago reported by The Boot Room that Celtic are considered one of a bunch of groups keen on a swoop to signal Manchester Metropolis central midfielder James McAtee within the January switch window.

The report claimed that the Hoops have made enquiries a few potential swoop to signal the left-footed star, though it’s unclear whether it is for a everlasting or mortgage transfer, however they’re set to face stiff competitors from loads of golf equipment throughout Europe.

Brentford, Atalanta, Fiorentina, Bologna, Fulham, West Ham, and Nottingham Forest are only a few of the various sides eyeing up a deal to snap up the England U21 worldwide for the second half of the marketing campaign.

The Boot Room added that Pep Guardiola would favor to maintain maintain of the younger expertise to bolster the depth of his squad, however the Spanish head coach may also not stand in McAtee’s approach if the participant decides {that a} transfer away from The Etihad is the most suitable choice for him.

Which means it might be a tough deal for Celtic to finish for a mess of causes, as they might want to persuade Manchester Metropolis and McAtee to conform to the transfer, while additionally keeping off curiosity from quite a few groups throughout Europe’s main leagues.

Why James McAtee might be Tom Rogic 2.0

The Hoops ought to push laborious to win the race for his companies as a result of he might arrive at Parkhead as Rogic 2.0 for Rodgers within the second half of the season.

Like the previous Celtic star, McAtee is a left-footed midfielder who can play in a central or attacking position and has the standard to make an influence on the high finish of the pitch by offering objectives and assists from the center of the park.

He has not began any of his three Premier League appearances for Manchester Metropolis up to now this season, however has scored 4 objectives and supplied one help in 4 caps for England at U21 degree this time period.

McAtee, who was described as “particular” by Guardiola, additionally produced three objectives and three assists in 20 begins within the English top-flight, while on mortgage with Sheffield United, within the 2023/24 marketing campaign, which speaks to his attacking potential.

His finest type on the high finish of the pitch, nonetheless, got here throughout his mortgage with the Blades within the 2022/23 Championship season, because the younger dynamo scored 9 objectives and created six ‘large possibilities’ in 21 begins within the second tier of English soccer.

As you possibly can see within the desk above, McAtee ranked extremely extremely amongst Championship midfielders that time period as a scorer and a creator of objectives, in addition to being a menace in transition together with his dribbling expertise.

The midfield star’s performances made former Sheffield United ahead Carl Asaba evaluate him to Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, telling the Soccer Heaven podcast: “He’s like Odegaard. You play him in midfield so he’s defending for you, he’s one other physique for them to attempt to navigate away from however he likes the ball 30 yards out as a result of he can go previous you such as you’re not there.”

On the age of twenty-two, the Manchester Metropolis outcast nonetheless has loads of potential left to satisfy and a mortgage to Celtic within the second half of the season might assist him to search out his rhythm by taking part in in a dominant group that may enable him to flourish as an attacker, as Rogic did throughout his time below Rodgers.