After Ange Postecoglou headed south, Celtic lured manager Brendan Rodgers back to Parkhead for a second stint in charge last summer.
In the 2023–24 season, the Northern Ireland head coach achieved a domestic double, making for a creditable comeback to life in Glasgow.
After defeating Rangers 1-0 in the Scottish Premiership final last month, his club won the SFA Cup and the Scottish Premiership title. Now, they may aim for the treble or even more next season.
With the formal opening of the summer transfer market earlier this month, Rodgers may be able to sign a reputed target from Scotland and become the next Tom Rogic.
Celtic’s pursuit of Premier League talent
According to a recent report by Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph, the Hoops are among the teams hoping to sign Dundee star Luke McCowan. The reporter went on to say that teams in the English Championship and the Major League Baseball are also monitoring him, implying that the Scottish powerhouses may have competition for his services.
He is nearing the end of his Dundee deal, so they might need to take advantage of him now before the window closes in order to keep him next year when he becomes a free agent. It is unclear, though, how much Celtic is willing to spend for the midfield player or how much the Premiership team would seek for him. But if they are able to sign a contract for his services, Rodgers might be able to play with the new Rogic for the Hornets in 2024–2025.
How possible Luke McCowan is Tom Rogic 2.0
Similar to the Australian sensation, McCowan is a left-footed central midfielder who may contribute to the team as a squad member by scoring goals from the middle of the park.
During his three years with Rodgers, Rogic did not play more than 22 league games in a single season, but he did make 105 appearances across all competitions.
The left-footed wizard contributed 24 goals and 20 assists in those 105 games, and his finest Premiership season under the Northern Irish manager was a return of five assists and seven goals in the 2016–17 season.
The table above illustrates how the 26-year-old master, who played in midfield, gave his side an excellent attacking outlet with 15 direct goal contributions in 37 games. If his colleagues had taken advantage of the “big chances” he generated, that number could have been higher.
Described as “tenacious” by journalist Kai Watson, McCowan scored ten goals for Dundee in all competitions and appears capable of joining the team and posing a goal danger to the Hoops.
Along with his goals and assists, the Scottish wizard also produced 2.5 tackles and interceptions per game in the Premiership, suggesting that he might be a reliable player when out of possession. Thus, by signing McCowan, Rodgers may be able to acquire his next Rogic—a rotating midfielder who can step in and provide superb attacking play when required.