Clock ticking for the frozen out Celtic players who weren’t at pre-season training

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It was great to see Celtic players return to Lennoxtown yesterday, with the club publishing photos and videos from Ange Postecoglou’s first session of pre-season.

Of course, you’ll know by now that it wasn’t the entire Celtic squad in attendance. The players who were on international duty have been given extra time off due to their hard work this summer.

However, they weren’t the only players missing from the session, after having a close look at all the media from the day.

Some figures who have barely featured under Postecoglou in the first half of 2022 were also missing – chiefly Albian Ajeti, Ismaila Soro and Boli Bolingoli.

Now, we don’t know the reasons for their absence. Perhaps there are injury issues or other valid reasons they did participate.

From the outside, it simply looks like they haven’t been included because their time at the Bhoys seems to be rapidly coming to an end.

Bolingoli’s absence is the least surprising. As far as we know he hasn’t been back at Lennoxtown since his agreed move to FC Ufa fell through.

He’s updated his social media working with a personal trainer in the time since, suggesting there’s no hurry for Celtic and the left-back to resume a relationship.

However, his contract runs until 2023 so a solution will need to be found one way or another this summer.

Both Ajeti and Soro did play a fair amount of games under Postecoglou last season, so their lack of appearances yesterday were a bit more conspicuous, even if both are also expected to be moved on this summer.

Even Christopher Jullien was involved in the beep test and other training sessions yesterday and he isn’t exactly thought to be high on the list of priorities for the manager.

Celtic have already shifted Vasilis Barkas this summer, but moving on some of these names, who are earning first-team wages, is a key priority.

If they’re not at Lennoxtown, it surely isn’t long until we hear of an exit?

In other news, Report: Alexandro Bernabei completes Celtic medical as club prepare to announce 5-year contract.