Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers He will certainly be pleased with his side's impressive level of performance throughout the 2024/25 season so far.
The Hoops are undefeated in Scottish Premier LeagueThe team leads the table by 14 points, having achieved 16 wins from 18 matches before the Old Firm clash with Rangers this afternoon.
They also won the League Cup, beating their Glasgow rivals on penalties in the final at Hampden Park, after failing to get the trophy last season.
However, the team's impressive form in all competitions this season has not stopped Rodgers from wanting to add new players to the squad during the January transfer window, which officially opened for business earlier this week.
Celtic's manager is He is reportedly seeking a reunion With Scottish international Kieran Tierney, the club are said to be eyeing a pre-contract agreement to sign him in the summer on a free transfer from Arsenal – the side he signed from the Hoops in 2019.
The Gunners left-back is one of many stars who played consistently for Rodgers during his first spell at Parkhead, with midfielder Tom Rogic being one of those players.
Tom Rogic pass for Brendan Rodgers
The Northern Irishman spent just under three years in Glasgow during his first spell at the club between the summer of 2016 and early 2019, before his move to Leicester City.
At that time, Rojek He made 105 matches To Rodgers in the middle of the park, which puts him inside Top ten To emerge as the manager's Celtic player – with Tierney, Callum McGregor and James Forrest included in the nine places ahead of him.
It shows how much the Hoops boss has faith in him, as he was a regular in the team during those three years, to perform week in and week out in all competitions.
Rogic, who left the club in the summer of 2022 and retired a year later, was a left-footed midfielder or attacking midfielder who looked to influence matches by scoring goals and assists for his team.
|
Tom Rojek (all companies) |
2016/17 |
2017/18 |
2018/19 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Appearances |
37 |
41 |
35 |
|
Objectives |
12 |
8 |
5 |
|
Helps |
6 |
9 |
6 |
As you can see in the table above, the Australia international has had a consistent impact in the final third as both a goalscorer and assister throughout Rodgers' time at the club.
Rogic was a proven player who could be relied upon to rise to the top of the pitch, and the manager found his new version of him in Matt O'Reilly, who scored a goal. He scored 18 goals and provided 13 assists In the league last season.
The Danish magician, of course, left to join Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer, and Rodgers is back in search of another left-footed magician to light up his midfield, with reports of his interest in Premier League midfielder Rogic.
Celtic interest in Premier League player
It was recently reported by Boot room Celtic are one of a group of teams interested in signing Manchester City midfielder James McAtee in the January transfer window.
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The report claimed that the Hoops have made inquiries about a potential deal to sign the left-footed star, although it is unclear whether that is for a permanent or loan move, but they will face stiff competition from plenty of clubs across Europe. .
Brentford, Atalanta, Fiorentina, Bologna, Fulham, West Ham and Nottingham Forest are just a few of the many sides eyeing a deal to snap up the England Under-21 international for the second half of the season.
The Boot Room added that Pep Guardiola prefers to retain young talent to bolster the depth of his squad, but the Spanish coach will also not stand in Makati's way if the player decides that a move away from the Etihad is best. The choice is for him.
This means it could be difficult for Celtic to complete the deal for a number of reasons, as they would need to convince Manchester City and McAtee to agree to the move, while fending off interest from several teams across the top European leagues.
Why could James McAtee be Tom Rogic 2.0?
The Hoops must push hard to win the race for his services as he could arrive at Parkhead as Rogic 2.0 for Rodgers in the second half of the season.
Like the former Celtic star, McAtee is a left-footed midfielder who can play in a central or attacking role and has the quality to make an impact at the top of the pitch by providing goals and assists from the middle of the park.
Didn't start Any of his three Manchester City have featured in the Premier League so far this season, but have scored four goals and provided one assist In four hats For England at U21 level this season.
Makati, who was Described as “private” By Guardiola, it was also produced Three goals and three assists At 20 years old, he is starting in the Premier League, while on loan with Sheffield United, in the 2023/24 season, which speaks to his attacking potential.
However, his best form at the top of the pitch came during his loan with Sheffield in the 2022/23 Championship season, where the young dynamo scored a goal. Nine goals and six great chances created At 21 he starts in the second tier of English football.
|
Championship 22/23 |
James McAtee per 90 |
Percentile rank among midfielders |
|---|---|---|
|
Goals other than penalty kicks |
0.43 |
top 1% |
|
Expected assist goals |
0.20 |
top 7% |
|
Snapshot creation procedures |
3.41 |
highest 18% |
|
Holds progressivism |
3.89 |
top 7% |
|
Successful turnouts |
1.85 |
top 1% |
As you can see in the table above, McAtee ranks incredibly highly among Championship midfielders as both a goalscorer and a goal-creator, as well as being a transitional threat with his dribbling skills.
The midfield star's performance made former Sheffield United striker Carl Asaba compare him to Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, saying Football Sky Podcast: “He's like Odegaard. You play him in midfield so he defends you, it's another body for them to try to get away from him but he likes the ball 30 yards away because he can pass you as if you're not there.
At 22 years old, the Manchester City outcast still has a lot of potential to live up to, and a loan to Celtic in the second half of the season could help him find his rhythm by playing in a dominant side that would allow him to flourish. A striker, as Rogic did during his time under Rodgers.
