BRENDAN RODGERS insists Celtic fans will love last gasp signing Kelechi Iheanacho.
The former Leicester City striker agreed a one-year deal to join the Hoops as a free agent after being released by Sevilla.
GettyKelechi Iheanacho of Leicester City[/caption]
AlamyKelechi Iheanacho of Leicester City celebrates after scoring a goal[/caption]
Kenny RamsayBrendan Rodgers at the end of the clash with Rangers game[/caption]
Iheanacho, 28, put pen to paper before the 11pm European signing deadline after a frantic day of signing talks.
Rodgers worked with the hitman during his time in charge of the Foxes.
And he vowed Iheanacho will be a smash hit with supporters who are furious with the lack of quality signings during this transfer window.
Rodgers said: “I know Kelechi so well and what he can bring to the team.
“He is such a talented player, with great ability, athleticism and work-rate.
“I am sure he will love being at Celtic and I believe our fans will love what he brings.
“He has great experience and he is right in his peak years so he can be a great signing for us.
“I am sure he will make a big contribution to the team.”
Iheanacho has signed a 12 month contract with Celtic having the option of another year.
Desperate Hoops recruitment chiefs were under huge pressure to get a deal done before 11pm.
And after a frantic day of transfer talks with free agents they finally managed to strike a deal.
Celts also held talks with free agent frontmen Patrick Bamford and Emmanuel Dennis.
But those attempts ended without any deals being done.
Celts had missed out on top target Kasper Dolberg on Sunday as the Denmark international opted for a move from Anderlecht back to Ajax.
Chelsea’s David Fofana was next on their list but he snubbed their offer to hold talks with Charlton.
That left Rodgers hugely frustrated given he’d been crying out for a new goalscorer after Kyogo Furuhashi was sold to Rennes in January.
He vowed Adam Idah would NOT be let go unless a replacement was signed first.
But incredibly the Irish international was allowed to join Swansea City on Monday night without anyone brought in to take his place.
That put chief executive Michael Nicholson and Head of Football Operations Paul Tisdale under enormous pressure to find a new striker before the Europa League deadline.
They could only sign players who had been freed.
And they finally managed to get an agreement with Iheanacho with an announcement coming just minutes after the 11pm Euro deadline.
However, they still face major questions from unhappy supporters.
Tunisia international winger Sebastian Tounekti was signed from Hammerby on deadline day in a £5.2m deal.
He was the last signing of the window after the arrival of Yamada, Osmand, Kieran Tierney, Ross Doohan, Benjamin Nygren, Hayato Inamura, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and Michael-Ange Balikwisha.
Left-back Marcelo Saracchi was brought in on loan from Boca Juniors.
But after losing the Champions League play-off to Kazakhstan outfit Kairat Almaty, fans have been left bemused that Rodgers wasn’t given more backing.
There were chants of Sack the Board at recent home games with chairman Nicholson and chairman Peter Lawwell singled out for abuse.
Majority shareholder Dermot Desmond has also come under scrutiny.
Former striker Chris Sutton posted a messaged on X which slammed his former club.
He wrote: “The most remarkable window of all time. Celtic have come out of it weaker.
“At least Celtic are doing everything they can for there to be a title race this season.
“Going into a season with great expectation and excitement after a few weeks the feeling now is utter deflation.”
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