“It’s very clear what we need to improve and there’s a lot of work going on, clearly, by ourselves and probably every club,” he said. “That’s the reality of this time of the year.
“We’re hoping that we can conclude some deals and improve the squad.”
New striker signing Shin Yamada has yet to make his debut, with the absence of Kyogo Furuhashi, who was sold to Rennes in January, still being felt.
Meanwhile, Celtic have also lost Jota to a long-term knee injury and sold fellow winger Nicolas Kuhn to Como.
Asked if he could understand supporters’ frustration, Rodgers said: “I think the board have shown over many years that the work will get done.
“And, obviously, as a group that run the club and have run it so well for so many years, they have to get what they will feel is the best value for the players.
“Of course, as coaches and managers and supporters, you want the best players.
“But, ultimately, the club will be run in a way that makes sure that both the best players and the best value is there to be made. And that sits above me, that’s something that clearly does.”
Rodgers said “I really don’t know” when asked if new signings might appear in the 10 days before Celtic’s Champions League play-off first leg against either Kairat Almaty or Slovan Bratislava, who meet again in Bratislava next week with the Kazakh side 1-0 up.
