Brendan Rodgers has insisted that Celtic remain relaxed as speculation continues to develop around the future of Hoops striker Moussa Dembele.

The 20-year-old has been the subject of further interest from south of the border with Brighton believed to be weighing up a formal offer for the player.

They are among West Ham, Everton and Stoke who have all kept tabs on the French under-21 internationalist.

Dembele’s slow walk off the pitch on Saturday afternoon before heading straight up the tunnel to shower and change invited further speculation that he expects to be playing his football elsewhere.

Rodgers, though, remains relaxed about the situation.

“There’s always speculation,” he said. “With Moussa we are getting to that stage where there will be a different team every day.

“That’s the way it is. If you look at the Premier League though, their window has changed in the summer and it will close early.

“That puts them under pressure so there are on the look out for players, depending on how their teams are doing.

“There will be a sense of urgency.

“For us, we are pretty much in control. We know where we are at domestically and we know the enormous challenge we face to be competitive in the Champions League.

“That’s the exciting part, seeing if we can win the league and got for it again.”

Meanwhile, Rodgers has again reiterated that he expects to come out of the January transfer window stronger than when he went into it.

The Parkhead side have added 32-year-old defender Marvin Compper to the ranks but further additions are anticipated to follow.

“January is an important window,” said the Celtic manager. “Some players may move on but from my experience here, it’s a window to prepare.

“It’s a World Cup season so if you are looking to prepare for the Champions League, the six months run in gives you an opportunity to do that.

“It’s about whether the right players are available but we definitely want to strengthen.

“One or two might move on, in terms of players who need games.

“But I’d anticipate us to be stronger in January.”

While the Champions League qualifiers will begin to loom large in the consciousness of Celtic, who will face four qualifying ties in their challenge to reach the group stages this summer, players will also be brought in to bolster the squad for the latter half of the campaign.

Compper is ineligible for the Europa League tie against Zenit St Petersburg but ultimately Rodgers is looking to the bigger picture.

“It depends on what your needs are,” he explained. “If there’s a need for a central defender in January then you try to get one.

“If it’s with a view to bedding them in and getting them ready for your biggest games, then it’s preparatory.

“There might be a short term need or a player you need to develop, so it’s a bit of both.”