BRENDAN RODGERS
BRENDAN RODGERS assembled a star-studded Celtic side in his first spell as manager. Scott Sinclair, Moussa Dembele, Odsonne Edouard and Timothy Weah were some big-name recruits. Lee Congerton worked with Brendan Rodgers for two of his three years at CelticKenny Ramsay - The Sun Glasgow GettyHe followed the boss south to Leicester and the Premier League[/caption] Kenny Ramsay - The Sun GlasgowCeltic had some star players like Moussa Dembele and Odsonne Edouard in their ranks[/caption] They led the team to glory in seven competitions in three years – adding another two once the boss left for Leicester. Successful on the pitch, the Hoops turned a tidy profit on several off it – particularly Dembele and Edouard – but it could have been more. More profit, and more glamour – according to then recruitment chief Lee Congerton. The former Hoops transfer guru is now in Serie A at Atalanta but worked with Rodgers over two years between 2017 and 2019 – then followed him south to the Foxes. But he says he left Parkhead because of who was being recruited to the Hoops – and who wasn’t. While the fans were treated to French frontmen Dembele and Edouard, the Hoops could have had some even bigger names in their ranks – ones who went on to transfer totals in excess of £50m EACH. The reason they didn’t, Congerton claims, is the Hoops couldn’t afford to buy into his vision – so he eventually moved on. He told the Daily Telegraph: “At Celtic we had no money. Peter Lawwell is a nice man, he’s an accountant. “Brendan spoke to me and said we needed pace and power, speed. “We all know PSG has an amazing youth programme with players at the time who were never going to play for PSG. “Two of the other players we tried to sign during my time were [Moussa] Diaby, who is now at Aston Villa, and [Christopher] Nkunku who is now at Chelsea. “But there were several players I didn’t want to be anywhere near them and that is why I left. Peter knows that and so did Brendan.” GettyMoussa Diaby was in Hoops’ sights when Congerton was lining up transfer targets[/caption] GettyNkunku went on to make two big-money moves and landed French caps[/caption] Kenny Ramsay - The Sun GlasgowCongerton (right) is now in Serie A with Atalanta[/caption] Nkunku would later go on to RB Leipzig for €13m – facing Rangers in the Europa League semi-final, then securing a £52m move to Chelsea last year. Diaby followed a similar path to Germany then England. He headed to Bayer Leverkusen before costing Aston Villa £51.9m last summer. The Hoops made hay with the likes of Sinclair, Dembele and Edouard in their ranks landing consecutive league titles and eventually striking a £20m deal for £800,000 signing Dembele, and flipping £9m man Edouard to Crystal Palace for £15.5m. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
BRENDAN RODGERS assembled a star-studded Celtic side in his first spell as manager.
Scott Sinclair, Moussa Dembele, Odsonne Edouard and Timothy Weah were some big-name recruits.
He followed the boss south to Leicester and the Premier League[/caption]
Celtic had some star players like Moussa Dembele and Odsonne Edouard in their ranks[/caption]
They led the team to glory in seven competitions in three years – adding another two once the boss left for Leicester.
Successful on the pitch, the Hoops turned a tidy profit on several off it – particularly Dembele and Edouard – but it could have been more.
More profit, and more glamour – according to then recruitment chief Lee Congerton.
The former Hoops transfer guru is now in Serie A at Atalanta but worked with Rodgers over two years between 2017 and 2019 – then followed him south to the Foxes.
But he says he left Parkhead because of who was being recruited to the Hoops – and who wasn’t.
While the fans were treated to French frontmen Dembele and Edouard, the Hoops could have had some even bigger names in their ranks – ones who went on to transfer totals in excess of £50m EACH.
The reason they didn’t, Congerton claims, is the Hoops couldn’t afford to buy into his vision – so he eventually moved on.
He told the Daily Telegraph: “At Celtic we had no money. Peter Lawwell is a nice man, he’s an accountant.
“Brendan spoke to me and said we needed pace and power, speed.
“We all know PSG has an amazing youth programme with players at the time who were never going to play for PSG.
“Two of the other players we tried to sign during my time were [Moussa] Diaby, who is now at Aston Villa, and [Christopher] Nkunku who is now at Chelsea.
“But there were several players I didn’t want to be anywhere near them and that is why I left. Peter knows that and so did Brendan.”
Moussa Diaby was in Hoops’ sights when Congerton was lining up transfer targets[/caption]
Nkunku went on to make two big-money moves and landed French caps[/caption]
Congerton (right) is now in Serie A with Atalanta[/caption]
Nkunku would later go on to RB Leipzig for €13m – facing Rangers in the Europa League semi-final, then securing a £52m move to Chelsea last year.
Diaby followed a similar path to Germany then England. He headed to Bayer Leverkusen before costing Aston Villa £51.9m last summer.
The Hoops made hay with the likes of Sinclair, Dembele and Edouard in their ranks landing consecutive league titles and eventually striking a £20m deal for £800,000 signing Dembele, and flipping £9m man Edouard to Crystal Palace for £15.5m.
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
