Between Jota and Liel Abada who garnered the most minutes on the right wing for Celtic last season, the pair scored 28 goals and registered 21 assists across all competitions.

This would indicate to any logical football fan that the right side of Brendan Rodgers attack next season is in extremely healthy shape, but if it is, why are Celtic in talks with two different right wingers?

Under Ange Postecoglou, Celtic for the most part either operated with Sead Hakšabanović or Daizen Maeda on the left wing. While Liel Abada and Jota were Ange’s two preferred options on the right with Rocco Vata and James Forrest used sparingly last season.

Although there are similarities to how Rodgers and Postecoglou set their teams up, such as both managers emphasising a high pressing game, there are subtle differences or “tweaks” as Rodgers labelled it when asked how far he would stray from the current sides style of play at the Celtic fan media press conference a couple of days ago.

Ange Postecoglou liked his wingers to start as wide as possible when Celtic were in possession, allowing for his full backs to invert and operate in the half spaces. While Rodgers prefers his wingers to be narrower with emphasis on cutting inside, to allow his full backs to overlap on the outside.

Jota and Sead Hakšabanović being natural left wingers who like to cut in on their stronger right foot means they are well suited to this approach from the returning Irishman, but the same cannot be said for the other side of Celtics attack.

Liel Abada is a modern winger, a goal scorer who likes to venture into the six-yard box and attack an oncoming cross or cutback. His game could transform under Rodgers next season if he remains at the club amid transfer speculation surrounding his future.

James Forrest’s game reached unprecedented levels when the Irishman joined Celtic the first time, with Rodgers teaching the academy graduate to cut inside and use his left foot to great success.

This is something Abada occasionally does but given the opportunity under Rodgers, it is something he could perfect in order to make his style of play much more difficult to contend with.

However, Celtic would still lack another natural option on the right wing even if Abada does remain at the club.

Thus why bids have been made for Yang Hyun-Jun of Gangwon FC in the K League and Marco Tilio of Melbourne City in the A-League respectively. The latter seemingly an imminent arrival at the club.

Tilio would offer a different dynamic for Celtic on the right wing, a left footer with the natural instinct of cutting inside. Something Celtic have not had since Patrick Roberts was at the club during Rodgers first stint in Glasgow.

Celtic’s treble winning squad is strong, but as Rodgers has said himself, “tweaks” are needed in order for the club to make an impact in Europe.

Improvements on the right-hand side of the park will play its part in striving to achieve this.

James French – Follow James on Twitter @ffrench1967

HUGE SAVINGS IN THE CELTIC STAR’S SUMMER SALE! 

The Celtic Star’s Father’s Day Promotion has been so successful, with hundreds of books at great prices being posted to Celtic fans all over the world, that we’ve decided to continue with the sale until the end of July. We’ve reduced all six books currently available from their usual retail price of £20 and prices are as low as £6 (see below).

All books are high quality hardback, with some signed by the author. And it’s also worth noting that you only pay postage on one book, so it’s free for the second, third and so on. ORDER HERE or click on The Celtic Star image above…this is how it feels to be Celtic!