While plenty of Celtic fans are clamouring for fresh blood and new signings, it’s worth noting the club still have plenty to do to move on the players who just haven’t cut it over the last couple of years.
The Bhoys are on the brink of announcing their third and fourth signings of the summer, with the incoming quartet assuredly part of Brendan Rodgers’ first-team squad, if not his direct starting eleven.
Aaron Mooy’s retirement, Jota’s big-money exit, Vasilis Barkas’ release and Conor Hazard’s departure has freed up some room but with Celtic expected to do plenty of more business between now and the end of August, space does need to be made or bloat becomes an issue.
So who is expendable? And who is likely to exit? For me, there are six pretty easy cuts before even needing to make any really difficult decisions.
The first of those is Albian Ajeti, whose contract at the Bhoys runs until the summer of 2024. He arrived as a substantial signing in 2020 and is likely to be paid at that level, so the sooner he is off the books, the better it is for all concerned. He spent last season on loan at Sturm Graz but it’s hard to see where he fits in under Rodgers and he hasn’t been seen in any training pictures so far this summer.
Another immediate contender to leave sharply is Ismaila Soro. Like Ajeti, he hasn’t been seen with the Celtic squad this summer after spending last season out on loan. The midfield area at Celtic is packed as it is and Soro simply isn’t going to get a look in. His contract also runs until 2024 and an exit before the end of the current transfer window would be welcome.
Liam Shaw and Osaze Urhoghide arrived as an early package at the start of Ange Postecoglou’s reign, having been identified as signings before the Australian’s arrival. They’ve barely featured, spent more time out on loan than at Celtic and are assuredly easy cuts to make this summer to make room for others.
Liam Scales is one of those who has been included on Celtic’s pre-season trip to Portugal and he has even gotten game time in the friendlies against Portimonense. But it’s hard to see him coming into the reckoning this season, despite Brendan Rodgers acknowledging he has a clean slate to impress earlier this week. Another loan, at least, looks likely so he can get the first-team football under his belt he needs for his development.
And that leaves James McCarthy. Another referenced by Rodgers as being ‘assessed’ this summer, it still feels like McCarthy would have made an impact at Celtic by now – if he was ever going to. He hasn’t started a match for the club since December 2021 and last featured off the bench in October 2022. There’s little chance of a resurgence here and moving on looks best for all parties.
In other news, Youngsters shine, Daizen press; Celtic goal highlights from 4-1 win over Portuguese side.
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