Brendan Rodgers reveals Chelsea legend’s influence on summer transfer | OneFootball

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed that he consulted a former Chelsea favourite over one of his summer signings. The Scottish Champions added Benjamin Nygren to their ranks in a bargain £1.5m transfer last week with Rodgers adding quality to the attacking third.

Speaking to Celtic TV, the Irishman confirmed that he had spoken to the Champions League winner, who is the Assistant Manager of Nordsjælland, to get a view on the player.

“I was in contact with a friend of mine there, who was a top midfield player, Michael Essien. Michael works there and he spoke really, really highly of Benjamin.”

Rodgers and the Ghanian legend worked together when Brendan was a backroom figure at Stamford Bridge under Jose Mourinho. It is a decent endorsement of Nygren from a player that was widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation.

The manager admitted that the player has been tracked by Celtic for some time before a deal was forthcoming this summer. Given the price tag and the Swedish Internationalist’s goal involvements over the last year, it looks like a shrewd piece of business.

Celtic are stepping up their pre-season plans with players having returned on Friday. The manager has added Nygren to the ranks along with Kieran Tierney, Ross Doohan and Callum Osmond. Although, it is expected that Celtic will add further to their ranks as well as selling some fringe talents.