Celtic cancelled Leigh Griffiths’ contract now to avoid him making a swift return to Lennoxtown and becoming a distraction, the Scottish Sun reports.
The Sun claims that the striker’s deal, which was due to expire in the summer, has been ripped up. This comes after a miserable first 6 months of the season on loan at Dundee.
It looked as if Griffiths would simply come back in the summer and leave Parkhead for good at that point. However, the Sun reports that Dundee were set to trigger a clause in the player’s loan agreement that would’ve allowed them to send him back.
The newspaper claims that Ange Postecoglou was firmly against Griffiths returning to Lennoxtown. Therefore, to avoid that particular prospect, Celtic have apparently made the move to cancel his deal.
It’s also said in the report that Griffiths will likely see out the season with Dundee. Granted, this will need to be on reduced wages given it will be on a different contract.
Griffiths will leave Celtic having scored 123 goals for the club. This term, he’s only managed 2 goals for the Dees [Transfermarkt].
Leigh Griffiths didn’t help himself with dismal Dundee loan spell
Interesting to see that Postecoglou didn’t want Griffiths anywhere near Lennoxtown. The fact Celtic have moved to cancel his contract shows exactly how toxic they believed the player’s arrival could be.
However, what can’t be denied is whether this is the right decision or not. The player isn’t a part of the Celtic dressing room anymore. It does Celtic no favours to welcome him back for 6 months and potentially get a moody player in amongst the squad because he’s been frozen out of action.
Griffiths simply didn’t help himself with the first half of his Dundee loan spell either. With only 2 goals to his name and a struggle to get a regular run of appearances under his belt, there’s not a lot to admire there. In fact, there’s next to nothing to appreciate about how this loan period has gone.
It’s ideal that this has come to an end now of course. Now we don’t have to listen to the player talking about coming back or trying to make an impact next season.
His only focus now should be on ensuring he ends his campaign as strongly as possible at Dens Park. That he gets himself into double-figures in terms of goals and finds a decent club to choose from in the summer.
It feels like we’ve known this unofficially for some time, but it certainly won’t be Celtic.
In other news, Why Celtic feel satisfied with January recruitment after 4 signings
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
