Celtic have agreed a deal to sell a Champions League player following their qualifier defeat to Kairat Almaty.
Rodgers frustrated as Celtic miss out on Champions League football
The Hoops missed out on a fourth consecutive Champions League campaign after being stunned by Kairat Almaty on Tuesday evening. After 210 minutes of goalless action, Celtic lost on penalties, with Adam Idah, Luke McCowan and Daizen Maeda all having their spotkicks saved by Kairat’s 21-year-old second-choice goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov.
Talking after the defeat in Kazakhstan, Rodgers described the defeat as a “huge blow”. “It’s very frustrating. We showed a glimpse of what we can do at this level but we haven’t been able to show that over the course of these two games.
“It’s bitterly disappointing, because we were on the right track last season and working really well and playing really good football, so to not be in there this season is a huge blow for us. We missed a massive opportunity over these two games.
“I thought overall it was a poor game. The pitch made it awful. We were defensively OK but couldn’t quite make the breakthrough. We had good chances, especially in the second half and extra-time, and when it goes to penalties anything can happen.
“We just have to reflect on opportunities that we didn’t take and we have to settle for the Europa League.”
Benjamin Nygren
FC Nordsjaelland
£2m
Shin Yamada
Kawasaki Frontale
£1.5m
Hayato Inamura
Albirex Niigata
£250,000
Kieran Tierney
Arsenal
Free
Ross Doohan
Aberdeen
Free
Callum Osmand
Fulham
Undisclosed
Jahmai Simpson-Pusey
Man City
Loan
There is still time for Celtic to bring in further signings before Monday’s transfer deadline, and former Hoops star Stiliyan Petrov thinks Rodgers is short of “four or five classy players”.
“I think they’re short probably four or five classy players with good quality. Celtic has always paid attention to developing players, giving them time, but they have those players. Now they need quality. They need players who can make a difference.”
Celtic agree deal to sell Mitchel Frame
According to Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph, following the Hoops’ defeat to Kairat Almaty, Celtic have now agreed to sell teenager Mitchel Frame to Aberdeen.
Those at Parkhead have included a “significant sell-on clause”, with the full-back into the final 12 months of his current Glasgow deal.
“Aberdeen have agreed a deal to sign Celtic left-back Mitchel Frame. It’s understood the clubs agreed a six-figure fee with a significant sell-on clause. Frame, 19, has one-year left on his Celtic contract.”
Frame actually made his Celtic debut in the Champions League against Feyenoord back in 2023, but since then, hasn’t featured under Rodgers.
A regular for Celtic B in last season’s Lowland League, Frame will now be looking for more senior game time at Pittodrie.