£12m ace reportedly allowed to leave: Celtic must beat English clubs to sign prolific striker on loan – opinion
Season-long loan a cheap alternative
Rodgers will be hoping his side can go one step further by achieving a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League, or at least European football after Christmas.
That means he still has certain positions in his side that could do with improvement including a new goalkeeper, a centre-back and a winger.
With trusted quality likely to cost Celtic a hefty wad of cash if Rodgers does indeed enter the transfer market again to improve those three areas, saving money elsewhere is crucial.
Sunderland are looking to sign McCormack on a season-long loan and bringing the versatile attacker for only a loan fee will preserve Rodgers’ transfer budget.