Odin Thiago Holm fired Celtic transfer warning by Brendan Rodgers in brutal ‘much higher level’ demand

Brendan Rodgers has warned prospect Odin Thiago Holm he’ll need to work harder to cut it at Celtic.

The youngster has featured in pre-season clashes against Ayr United and Queen’s Park but has struggled to break into the side following his £2m move last summer. But Rodgers said: “They need to be a much higher level. If you’re going to play for Celtic, you have to be. Odin needs to do more. There’s something there, though, absolutely.

“And that’s why we persevere, and that’s why we stay with it, because he has talent, like Bosun Lawal, and that’s why we want to give them the opportunity, so I can see them in pre-season. But, it’s just running more. You have to run. Without the ball, you’ve got to run, you’ve got to be bright, you’ve got to be in good positions to press the game, then to get the ball and take the ball.

“You see Francis Turley when he comes into the game the other night. It’s a kid I’ve only seen for a couple of days, and if he can progress and get his body right, then he’ll be a proper player. It’s a kid that moves well.

“You see how he moves, how he takes the ball, makes runs, he’s bright, he gets in the box, gets a finish. He just needs to get more power and energy, but that’s football, that’s movement, that’s taking the ball, that’s being clever.

“So I think the two boys (Holm and Lawal) that you mentioned have talent. But I want more. A lot more. Talent not just enough. You can play in teams, but not in our team.”