Celtic will submit their squad for their Champions League qualifier tomorrow night but can add new signings right up until the night before

15:15, 14 Aug 2025Updated 15:15, 14 Aug 2025

Brendan Rodgers(Image: SNS Group)

Brendan Rodgers insists Celtic will work right to the wire to tool up for the Champions League showdown with Kairat Almaty.

The Hoops will submit their Euro squad at 11pm on Friday night – but can add two wildcard up to the day before Wednesday’s play-off first leg clash.

Rodgers is determined to bolster his attack – and he also played down fears talisman Daizen Maeda is looking for an exit.

When asked about incoming, the Celts boss said: “Hopefully would be the answer to that. We have right up until the day before the game to change our squad, so hopefully that can be the case.

“I think we’ve said it all along, and I don’t want to dwell too much on it, but it’s been constant, and I’m not clever enough to say the same thing 20 times differently.

“So we hope that we can improve it, and hopefully by then we will do.

“Listen, I’m philosophical about it. I think that the club has always notoriously done business towards the end of the window.

“I’ve said it before, I think that all managers and coaches want the players in as soon as we can, because pre-season is for preparation, and you want to be as prepared as you possibly can be.

“But what has gone unnoticed a little bit is that we’ve made a really good start.

“We’ve had two really good wins, played well. I know we’ll get better, but I can’t knock the performance over the two games to get the results. Sometimes that has been clouded a wee bit, and all this negativity around the transfers.

“So I’m really just trying to focus on the guys that are here. Lots of stuff going on in the background, and then hopefully we can come out of the end of the market in a good place.”

Rodgers cooled rumours Maeda is considering ending his four year stint and contract talks are ongoing.

Daizen Maeda(Image: SNS Group)

He said: “Daizen’s obviously got a couple of years (left on his current deal). There have been discussions and that going on in the background but I don’t have any sort of updates on it.

“He’s been here four years, he’s progressed every year he’s been here and finished off a brilliant season for him.

“I think what you always get with Daizen is 100 percent.

“He’s not quite up to full speed yet but no, I don’t know of any developments on that.”

Celts face Falkirk in the Premier Sports Cup on Friday night but plans are already underway for the gruelling 7000-mile round trip to Kazakhstan for the Kairat second leg a week on Tuesday.

And Rodgers revealed Hoops chiefs will be pulling out the stops to make sure the squad travel in style.

Celts hired a jet used by MADONNA for their last trip to Kazakhstan and will be going in style again this time.

Rodgers said: “Hopefully a plane that gives you the chance to relax and get a rest and recovery.

“When you travel that far, there is a serious side to it. There’s preparation, not just for the game you’re going to, but the game you’re coming back for. “So you always want to ensure you get the best possible play that allows you to relax and recover the best you possibly can.

“Whoever’s plane it is, I don’t really know. But as I said, the club will make the best efforts to get the best one.

“Operationally we were very, very good. I think there’s no stone unturned to make sure the preparation is right.

“We’ve got a brilliant operations team here and wherever we go, the pre-seasons, everything, the staff do a brilliant job.

“So logistically, we’ll do everything we possibly can to make the journey and the preparation, because it’s such a mammoth journey, so the preparation is key,

“The club will do everything we can, I’m sure, to ensure the preparation is what we would want.”