Celtic have a major rebuild on their hands this summer.
Despite the absence of a head of recruitment, director of football and permanent manager, recruitment work is already underway, reportedly being fronted by Shaun Maloney.
Martin O’Neill has done a stellar job of holding the fort in his interim role, but his focus has been purely on the short-term.
With an eye on the future, 67 Hail Hail have reviewed every Celtic player nearing the end of their current contract.
Utterly devastating for Kasper, your thoughts, Celtic fans…
Stay strong, Kasper!
Celtic players with expiring contracts
Kasper Schmeichel has been in the headlines this week, after the devastating news that he may have played his last professional game.
The period of absence he will be subjected to by his required surgery will take him well beyond the expiry of his current deal in a few months.
READ MORE: Elijah Just’s agent addresses transfer interest as Celtic links continue
The club also face a decision on James Forrest, whose deal is up in May. The much-loved winger has made it public that he will retire when Celtic stop wanting him.
Kelechi Iheanacho returned to the Hoops’ bench in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Motherwell, but hasn’t been used in a domestic game since February 1st. An extension to his one-year deal looks unlikely at this stage.
Will the outcome be different for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain? Time will tell, but the Englishman has been used a fair bit since making his short-term move to Glasgow. His contract contains an option to extend his stay by an additional 12 months.
Those are the only four Celtic contracts due to expire this year. Of course, the Hoops currently have six players on loan, adding to the very temporary feel to this present squad.
In the cases of Marcelo Saracchi and Julian Araujo especially, there are likely to be conversations about a permanent switch, though neither of that pair have an option to buy inserted in their loans.
Looking further ahead to 2027, Luke McCowan, Daizen Maeda and Anthony Ralston are the main trio who are close to the final year of their deals.
After uncertainty surrounding Maeda’s future after his revelation that he was denied an exit last summer, it certainly feels that the time to sell is the upcoming transfer window, especially if he can add to his value at the World Cup.
Do you consider James Forrest as a Celtic legend?
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James Forrest on his Celtic future
A very honest Forrest said on his Celtic future earlier this month: “Until the club tells me to go, I’m going to try and stay here for as long as I can.
“But I think the most important thing, just the way the season’s gone, is the club and just trying to help the club as much as I can every game. If I play, if I don’t, in different ways, just trying to make an impact.
“We’ve still got a league and a cup we’re in as well. So, if I can play a part and help the team win something, that would be great. I can think about that at the end of the season, to be honest.
“I think, at this stage of my career, I don’t see myself playing for any other team, to be honest. I still feel good. I still like to play football.
“I like working hard and fighting to get a place in the team as well. I still enjoy that.
“So, as I said, I think the main thing now is just focus on every game and try to help the team and then maybe have a discussion with the club at the end of the season and see what happens then.”
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