Celtic have a lot of work to do this summer.
I’ll be honest. If you told me after our final game of the 2020/21 season against Hibernian that in six weeks we still wouldn’t have a new player signed, I would’ve laughed.
However, there’s been a degree of optimism that’s swept the club since then. A feeling that Celtic are entering a new chapter after the arrival of Ange Postecoglou as the new manager. Same with Dom McKay who takes up the CEO role at Celtic Park.
Perhaps that ease in tension comes from Postecoglou’s own admittance that he needs players in the door now. Even so, there’s growing optimism at Celtic Park and an air of positivity about the football club. It’s certainly an exciting time.
That’s why, for me, we need to sort out the pieces of the old guard who want out pronto. Evert since the end of the campaign we’ve heard stories that our top stars want away.
Odsonne Edouard, Kris Ajer, Ryan Christie, and Olivier Ntcham are all potential first-team options next season who appear ready to move on. The thing is, we’ve now been hearing this for weeks. Months even. Everyone could’ve told you Edouard and Ajer would be leaving the club as soon as new contracts weren’t signed last summer.
Celtic shouldn’t allow exit stories to linger
Edouard has had his link to Leicester seemingly close up [Daily Mail]. Ajer, meanwhile, is said to be angry Celtic rejected offers from Bayer Leverkusen and Norwich for his services [The Athletic]. Ryan Christie is apparently ready to try something new [Sunday Post]. Then there’s the Olivier Ntcham to AEK Athens stuff that just won’t go away [Scottish Sun].
With so much to do this summer, Celtic have to make a decision on these players immediately. Postecoglou has said that he will speak to the wantaways [Daily Record]. But there needs to be a swift decision made on all four of these players.
We as fans don’t want to be sitting here in four weeks’ time speculating what will happen with the quartet. The best thing that could happen this summer is that Celtic get their wantaways out early. Or, at the very least, come to an agreement with regards to when they depart or if they decide to stay.
But these chats Postecoglou holds with the players simply must provide some definitive answers. Allowing uncertainty to linger as we head into the UEFA Champions League qualifiers is a no-no.
It doesn’t help squad unity and can lead to an unhealthy atmosphere at a key stage of the season – the very beginning.
So it’s down to Celtic to take action on all four players and shut down these transfer rumours surrounding. Get their futures sorted now so we can focus properly on the rebuild and those who definitely want to commit their futures to the club.
In other news, Celtic have sold at least 46,000 season tickets so far.
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