Chris Sutton has pinpointed the three key Celtic players he expects to leave in the summer, and believes the Hoops will have trouble replacing them.
Celtic look set to see their squad decimated at the end of the season. With a host of player contracts up at the end of the 2021/21 campaign, this could be our last chance to get a decent figure for many of them.
The Hoops managed to play a blinder in the summer. They held on to every single one of their key assets and even strengthened in vital areas too. It looked, at the time, to be a masterstroke.
Yet the season has fallen into disarray and our 10-in-a-row dreams have been dashed. And as we get set for the rebuild, a lot of the current crop of talent will need replaced.
However, big Chris has mentioned three irreplaceables he expects to depart once the season’s over. Speaking to the Record Celtic Podcast, Sutton said: “We talk every season about Champions League qualifiers coming around and Celtic need to be ready. Ajer has one year left on his contract and it seems he wants to try something else, so it looks like he’ll be off.
“Massive, massive issue”
“You look at Edouard and Christie, it looks like they’ll be off and this is a massive, massive issue. Edouard has been outstanding in recent weeks. He’s a player I rate so highly and the goals he’s scored in recent weeks suggest he’s getting up to the necessary level. It’s no secret it looks as though he wants away, but it’s an interesting one when you talk about transfer fees and how much could Celtic get.
“There is going to have to be one hell of an overhaul this summer. We’re talking about the here and now what happens on the pitch next season. There’s a massive hole within the team if those three go.”
Sutton fears well placed; Celtic can’t truly replace certain individuals
It’s a great point Sutton makes. The departure of these three players, if they all go, will open up a huge hole that will need filled. With so much in terms of transfer fees needed to offset money lost to the pandemic too, it’s difficult to foresee a lot of money being spent before next season.
Ajer and Edouard look like certainties to be first out the door. The time has come for both men to experience a new challenge. Parkhead has become toxic for the development of two youngsters as talented as that duo. Don’t expect them anywhere near Glasgow come August.
Christie’s situation is a touch more interesting. With a contract expiring in the summer of 2022, this is a problem. A decision on him needs made imminently. Celtic can’t allow this summer to go beyond them with Christie still yet to have made his mind up.
If he does leave, it will again reduce our quality going forward. However, with a ready-made number 10 replacement in David Turnbull, it shouldn’t be too harmful. You would expect James Forrest to be back firing for next season along with some back-up at right-wing too. So if Christie leaves for a decent fee, Celtic fans likely won’t be panicking too much.
But the former two will be irreplaceable. Of course Celtic need some cover up top and at the back should Eddy and Ajer go. But there will be an acceptance amongst supporters that their replacements won’t be of the same value. That has to be accepted. It would be unfair on their replacements to expect the same quality.
It’s going to be a busy summer regardless. Celtic need a host of signings in the door, but don’t expect the bank to be broken.
In other news, Celtic boss Neil Lennon is clearly struggling to deal with a key Parkhead conundrum.
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