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Celtic transfer news: Oliver Burke reveals the one reason he joined
OLIVER BURKE has revealed he was influenced to join Celtic by their ‘fantastic’ manager Brendan Rodgers.
Burke has joined Celtic on a six month loan deal from parent club West Bromwich Albion - for whom he has only made three league appearances this season.
The Scotland international joined the Baggies from RB Leipzig for £15million in August 2017 and has spoken of his delight at joining Rodgers in Scotland.
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“I just want to kick on now and get as many games as I can under my belt and show what I’m capable of,” Burke said.
“I know I’m under the right manager here in Brendan. He’s fantastic and influenced me a lot to come here. He’s the right man to help me develop and get the best out of me.”
Celtic are under pressure from fans to make more signings in the January transfer window after rivals Rangers completed loan deals for both Jermain Defoe and Steven Davis.
Those two deals even provoked Celtic legend Chris Sutton to claim that Rangers are now favourites to win the Scottish Premiership title.
Burke, who spent one season in Germany after leaving Nottingham Forest, admitted his career has stalled in recent years.
“I haven’t played as many games as I’d like to,” he said.
“There’s a possibility here for me, as soon as Celtic let us know, I was really keen and hopefully it’s for the better.
“I know I’m going to develop and become a better player under him if I listen and work hard.
“My main targets here are to play as many games as I can and to help the club, and to obviously help as much as I can to win the title.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing all the fans at the home game at Celtic Park. That’ll be interesting. I’ve never been before so I’m really excited for that.”
Rangers favourites to win SPL, says Celtic legend Sutton
I can’t help but think Celtic need to do something
Rangers legend Kris Boyd agrees that the reining Scottish champions need to add to the signing of Burke in the remaining weeks of the transfer window.
“There have been questions asked of Celtic recently and they have risen to the occasion," Boyd said.
“But with the result in the Old Firm, I can’t help but think Celtic need to do something.
"The fans are starting to become disillusioned with the whole thing in terms of there must be money there.”