In 20 days, Celtic will enter the draw for the new League phase in the Champions League. Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers hears the jungle drums beating...loudly as a matter of fact. Rodgers hears the mood music. He hears every beat.

The Irishman aspires to make his club a respected 'force' on the European stage once again. It is a long-held ambition of his. Earlier this week, Celtic posted a message to the London Stock Exchange which said the club was on course for "significantly higher" earnings than they previously expected when they release their financial results in September.

In short, Celtic are sitting on a surplus of cash. They are in Glasgow parlance 'not short of a few bob'. There is growing frustration among the rank-and-file that the Celtic hierarchy is reluctant to release the necessary funds that would see the men in green and white compete properly in the new European competition. Celtic also have 21 days to recruit wisely and bring in the quality that the manager desperately craves. Rodgers has been steadfast and consistent in his message thus far. The time to judge his squad will be on August 30. Not before.

The 51-year-old is adamant that he knows what is required at Celtic to be a success in Europe. The Irishman's buzzword last season was 'quality', you can add 'recruitment ' to that now. He insists that clubs like Celtic simply cannot afford to get it wrong in the transfer market. However, Celtic's most vociferous critics have been lining up to have a pop. They have been quick to point out to Rodgers that if the club is so flush when are they ever going to loosen the purse strings?

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Rodgers said: "I’ve always said that recruitment is vital for success on the football pitch. Bringing in the players that allow you to elevate the game. Especially when you go up in the Champions League then the recruitment of players is crucial.

"Especially in the big clubs, if you don’t get it right then you have very little chance to put it right. If you don’t bring in a player that suits your style and is suitable for the football that you want to play - improving that player when there’s very little time is very difficult. That’s why you want to get in not just a player but the right player who can elevate you and the team’s game and that he’s a sufficient level. It will allow you to improve. That’s absolutely key. I’m looking at the end of the window for signings, and that is when you can judge. I know that supporters want to see that team on the pitch, and as managers, we want the players in quickly and integrated.

"At the end of it, if we can get to the end of August and have a stronger squad than what we finished with last season, it will still be a successful window for us. The point you make is absolutely correct - to have success on the football pitch, you need to recruit, and you need to recruit the best possible players you can, if you want to achieve in European football."

There were more encouraging signs on the transfer front this week when the club announced they had reopened negotiations with Norwich City to finally prize Republic of Ireland striker Adam Idah away from Carrow Road. Celtic's initial bid of £4.5 million was rejected in July but it's understood that a package somewhere in the region of £6-8 million would be enough to conclude that piece of business. Rodgers said: "I am hoping by the end of the window that it can be done with some others. God willing we can get that sorted along with one or two other players.

"I just think going forward with everything else and coaching time then you want to have the players in as soon as possible. Hopefully before the end of the window, the gaps that are clear in the squad and that we need to improve are acted on, whilst never shutting the door to our young players."

(Image: Craig Williamson - SNS Group)

Conversely, Rodgers remains relaxed about the potential sale of Danish midfielder Matt O'Riley in this window. Celtic are reputedly looking for somewhere in the region of between £30-£35 million for their prized asset. English Premier League side Brighton was the latest to have joined the race with reports suggesting that they were preparing an offer of £25 million with £4 million in add-ons.

Rodgers though insists that there is a contingency plan in place should O'Riley flee the Glasgow east end coop. He said: "It's just framing it for the players. I’ve spoken with the players on that, that this can be a difficult period. There is a lot of emotion and emotional leverage being used by agents and all sorts of things going on to try and get players.

"You have to just manage it as best you can and keep the team focused on what you want to achieve over the course of the season. This period is a difficult period naturally for players and everyone. We can only keep our focus on the next game and the next training session. Thankfully, the players have been absolutely brilliant, I have to say. The behaviour and the respect shown for everything we’re trying to do has been brilliant, even though there has been speculation.

"For the likes of Matt, he’s been fantastic. People might say ‘Do you have to be not nice to get a move’ and that’s not the case. He’s a good guy, his training is exemplary and if a club meets the valuation that the club thinks he is worth and can go then that will happen. I repeat the value of the players will have to be matched before the club can consider it. Part of improving our squad is getting all the players of quality in. We always have to be ready and braced for that. It can’t be a surprise, but we don’t want Matt to go, first and foremost. We know the club’s model and how it works, but there’s no rush to move Matt.

"We would love him to stay here and be here. I can see it in himself - he’s really happy. If you have the chance to change the conditions in your life and a club makes an offer that is of great value, then you have to look at it. There always needs to be that contingency in place, for sure."

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Elsewhere Celtic skipper Callum McGregor called it quits at the international level having amassed 63 caps and 7 goals in the dark blue of Scotland and played in two European Championship finals campaigns. Rodgers revealed that he was consulted in the decision-making process by McGregor.

Rodgers said: "I had spoken to Callum about that and I was aware of his intentions. He's had a great seven years with Scotland. He has 63 caps and seven goals. From a selfish perspective, it is really good news for Celtic. He will get the chance to recover properly due to the number of games that he plays. This will give him those little opportunities to have a breather because he is really intense. That's what I love about him, his appetite to improve, and he never has a day off - ever.

"Even when he has a free day to recover he is thinking about the game. These little windows that he will have will give him the chance to do that. It is a fantastic career he has for his country and he can be very proud of that. He is now entering the next part of his career and all of his focus will be on Celtic.

"That type of decision and that kind of feeling has to come from the player and out of respect he wanted to speak to me about it. I think the humility around Callum was based on him thinking I would think any less of him by not being an international footballer by name. That's absolutely incredible. It was more just a listening exercise and respecting his opinion. I am sure he will have spoken to one or two other people as well. He was very clear in his mind after a long thought process.

"Callum has been pivotal to Scotland qualifying for the tournaments that they have done. Deep down he will have his own reasons. I know Callum so well he has played so many games for me as a manager. I just know he will now look at this part of his career after playing so many games over 500 odd games in his club career and he will have many more to come. He will probably want to be able to look after his body and fitness-wise he is in a really good condition and he will be looking forward to the future."

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Celtic are looking to make it two Scottish Premiership wins on the bounce at Easter Road this weekend with Daizen Maeda being declared fit to face new Hibs boss David Gray's side. Rodgers revealed that he always prepares his men to be involved in an exceptional game no matter the opposition. He said: "I am delighted for David (Gray) that he has got the opportunity. I was sad to see Nick (Montgomery) move on. David is a young manager at 36 years of age and it doesn't seem that long since I was 35 and starting my managerial career.

"It has gone so fast. I am excited for him and he is at a club that he knows really well. He has had three caretaker stints. He will feel that now is the right time to step forward. He is a club legend. He helped the club to one of the greatest days in its history and he is now taking the step into becoming a manager and he will be really excited about that. He will be excited about his first game at home as the Hibs manager.

"For us, our philosophy is always that we prepare for a special game and this being the next one then this will be a special game after a very good performance last weekend. That's what we have prepared for all week."

Rodgers has always been the kind of football manager to mind his P's and Q's. Right up until the 30th of August, it will be his R's and Q's and two buzzwords that will consume him - Recruitment and Quality.