Brendan Rodgers this afternoon laughed off a question on potential homegrown player signings as he discussed deadline day business.

The Celtic manager insisted "a number of transactions" are going on behind the scenes at Parkhead on deadline day.

Celtic are expected to land Sheffield United defender Auston Trusty and Arne Engels from FC Augsburg before the window closes tonight.ย 

Celtic have also been linked with Dundee standout performer Luke McCowan over the summer with the player on the radar of Brendan Rodgers.

McCowan would also help with homegrown player quotes in the Champions League should a deal come to fruition.

On Sky Sports, Rodgers was quizzed on the restrictions on signing foreign players as to ensure registration criteria is met for the Champions League.

Quizzed on the matter, Rodgers said:ย "It's alwaysย our intention anyway. Our homegrown players, the Scottish players are important for us, not just to put onย a list but to have available for the squad to use.

"The homegrown side of things is always important to Celtic. Certainly, having homegrown players allows you to have the squad that you want rather than having to take players out because you don't have it."

The Celtic boss was then asked whether he could sign Scottish players in order to help with squad registration criteria.

But Rodgers chuckled as he responded with a not-so-subtle reference to McCowan rumours.

He said: "Ah, right, okay! I know what you're getting at now! But listen we just want good players, whether they're Scottish, Irish, whatever, we justย good players."