Rodgers 'hopeful' of new signings before Kairat tie

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Brendan Rodgers is "hopeful" he will be able to add to his Celtic squad before the Champions League play-off tie with Kairat Almaty.

The Scottish Premiership winners host the Kazakh side in Wednesday's first leg, with the return leg six days later.

Last term, Celtic reached the knockout phase play-off.

So far this summer, Rodgers has signed seven players, with three having featured so far this campaign.

"Hopefully would be the answer to that," said Rodgers when asked about potential captures.

"We have right up until, I believe it's the day before the game, to change our squad so hopefully that can be the case. We hope that we can improve it and hopefully by then we will do."

Rodgers pointed out the club have tended to do more business towards the end of transfer windows, with more than two weeks of the summer one still to run.

"I'm philosophical about it," he added.

"What has gone unnoticed a little bit is that we've made a really good start - two really good wins [against St Mirren and Aberdeen], played well, I know we'll get better.

"I can't knock the performances over the two games to get the results. Sometimes that has been clouded a wee bit in all the negativity around the transfers. Hopefully, we can come out of the end of the market in a good place."

Celtic defeated another Kazakh side, Astana, over two legs en route to the Champions League group stages in 2018, during Rodgers' first spell as manager in Glasgow.

Commenting on the tie with Kairat and the 7,000-trip to Almaty in south-eastern Kazakhstan, Rodgers said: "Everyone would've preferred the closer team and not so much journey but it is what it is.

"We've been there before and the first leg we want to make a real push to set a standard in that game on Wednesday and we go there the following week and look to qualify. It's such a huge game, big game and when it comes, we'll be ready for it."

Meanwhile, Rodgers is "fairly confident" last season's top scorer Daizen Maeda will still be in his squad when the transfer window closes.

The 27-year-old Japan forward, who is yet to score this season, has two years remaining on his contract.

"There has been discussions and that going on in the background but I don't have any updates on it," Rodgers said, hinting at a possible new deal.

"He's been here four years and progressed every year he's been here and finished off a brilliant season for him. I think what you'll always get from Daizen is 100%."