Four important choices Brendan Rodgers has to make about Celtic transfers: David Turnbull’s future, Joe Hart’s future, and “stick or twist”

This month, the Hoops manager has to make a lot of important decisions about who to bring in and who to let go.

The January trade window is now open, which means that Celtic could make some changes to their team.

In order to take the next step in Europe, Brendan Rodgers has often talked about how he wants to add real “quality” to his team. During the group stage of the Champions League, there were some great performances. For example, the Hoops finally got the win they’ve been waiting for in the final against Feyenoord, but the top level can be harsh and punish you for any mistake. The manager of Celtic wants to make a name for himself by adding more talented and experienced players to his team. This is because they want to beat Rangers to the Scottish Premiership title this season and get back to the big table with Europe’s best teams.

People know that it’s hard to get transfers done during these four weeks, when the men from the east end are dealing with a number of important problems. David Turnbull and Joe Hart’s contract problems are two examples. FIVE first-team stars are leaving for the Asian Cup with their countries, but Kyogo Furuhashi is NOT one of them after being turned down by Japan. Rodgers is going to have a busy month. Record Sport looks at four important choices that could be made at Parkhead this month.

Turn or stick
It’s interesting that David Turnbull is looking to move to Celtic. This is the last six months of the midfielder’s current contract. As of today, he can talk to anyone interested in signing a pre-contract.

The Celtics’ midfield is one of their best areas, with captain Callum McGregor and star player Matt O’Riley being regulars there. Reo Hatate is also back in the mix after being hurt for a while. Paulo Bernardo has been stepping up lately after getting used to life in Glasgow. He scored the first goal in the recent derby win over Rangers, and he’s getting better with each game. A player named Odin Thiago Holm is also signed by the champions to help out in that area of the field.

Turnbull has played in a lot of games, scoring seven goals in 18 games across all competitions. There has been little talk about whether he will stay or leave, and if there is any interest, the Hoops may be able to cash in on it in the next few weeks.

Someone to keep an eye on.

Do not let it in.
Like David Turnbull, Joe Hart is a big name whose deal is coming to an end in six months. Ange Postecoglou quickly picked up the former England captain when he got to Scotland, and he has been the first choice ever since. That hasn’t changed under Brendan Rodgers, even though there was a lot of talk in the summer about bringing someone new in.

Benjamin Siegrist and Scott Bain are on standby, but neither of them has been able to really make things interesting. If something were to happen this month, one of the back-up pairs might have to leave.

The 36-year-old Hart hasn’t been talked about either way so far, and Rodgers may look for a goalie even more between now and the summer before making up his mind.

He definitely brings a lot of knowledge and leadership to the table. The question now is whether the Celtic manager wants to make him his No. 1 player right away, turn him into a backup for any new player that might come in the future, or let him go to a new team in the summer.

Another problem that needs to be fixed as soon as possible.

Lines of defense
Brendan Rodgers might want to add to his defense since Scott McKenna has already been linked with a move this month.

Nat Phillips is set to return to Liverpool when his short-term loan ends while Gustaf Lagerbielke, who came in the summer, has also been discussed as a possible player to leave despite only arriving in the summer.

Liam Scales has established himself as a key man alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers but the USA international has been hit with a number of niggling injury problems this term. Stephen Welsh is in the same position as his teammate, and Maik Nawrocki hasn’t played much since the beginning of the season. He came on in the win over Rangers and did well as he hopes to kick on in Glasgow.

But with question marks over injuries, exits and more it is an area that could well come into thinking this month.

The Asian Cup
This month, five Celtic players will be going to the Asian Cup, but Kyogo Furuhashi, who is well-known, will not be going.

For Brendan Rodgers, the news that Oh was called up by South Korea is huge. It’s a big loss for the player. Another player who can play in the middle is Daizen Maeda, but he will be jetting out with Japan with Reo Hatate. Yang and Marco Tilio have also been chosen to play for their country in the event.