Five players who could still depart Celtic this summer as positive streamlining continues

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Celtic have carried out some positive work in the transfer window in recent weeks.

The likes of Marco Tilio, Hyeokkyu Kwon and Hyunjun Yang have been brought to the club from far afield, with the intention of improving the squad.

In addition to this, a few out-of-favour players have been allowed to move on and further their careers.

In recent times, Conor Hazard, Osaze Urhoghide and Liam Shaw have all departed with the latter on loan.

It must be viewed as positive streamlining given that none of the trio were likely to earn much game-time under Brendan Rodgers this season, and therefore not seeming to serve much of a function at the club.

Nothing against the trio, but they were clearly never going to be first-team stars at our club.

The same could also apply to a number of other players who are still on our books.

2020 signings Albian Ajeti and Ismaila Soro are reminders of a season we’d all rather forget. While both also played under new management in 2021/22, their loan spells away from the club last season effectively signalled their permanent exits.

Both are out of contract in a year’s time (Transfer Markt) and loan or permanent exits this summer seem a given.

James McCarthy has endured a tough few years in Glasgow. Big things were expected of the former Crystal Palace and Everton midfielder but they haven’t materialised for whatever reason.

Plagued by injuries, he has also failed to make much of an impact when fit. He is another we could expect to see move out on loan this summer, although we may have said that 12 months ago too.

His compatriot Liam Scales has featured in a number of our pre-season fixtures so far, but his chances of game-time will decrease when Cameron Carter-Vickers and imminent signing Maik Nawrocki enter the fray.

An exit could be in the offing for him while the same may apply to academy graduate Stephen Welsh.

The Scottish youth international is about as likeable a person as you could hope to meet and few would deny him the opportunity of more regular game-time.

Celtic could lose these five players this summer and not be significantly impacted on the pitch. Everyone would seem to be a winner.

In other news, Celtic have announced that the opening league fixture of the new season has sold out