Michael Gannon says Callum McGregor’s decision on his Celtic future isn’t clear-cut.
It’s been a fascinating six months for the Parkhead captain, which started with reports linking him with a Brendan Rodgers reunion in Saudi Arabia.
Several months later, when asked about his Celtic future, McGregor refused to rule out a summer departure, saying that a decision will be made depending on discussions with the club’s hierarchy.
According to Gannon, the Saudi option may not be as concrete as some think.
What are your thoughts on Callum McGregor’s strong comments on his Celtic future?
Michael Gannon: Callum McGregor’s Celtic future ‘not clear-cut’
Gannon said on the Record Celtic podcast: “I don’t think it’s an open-and-shut case with Callum McGregor’s future at Celtic at the moment.
“I sat at the interview last week, where he did say, ”if Celtic match my ambition, then I’ll stay’.
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“That’s a very open definition. How do you quantify ambition? Is it, say, spending £50 million to get Champions League? I don’t know.
“So I think he’s been quite cute with that one. There’s no doubt in my mind that he’s absolutely dragged this team through this season.”
He continued: “In terms of his future, you’re talking about Saudi, aren’t you, Daniel?
“I don’t think it’s quite as concrete as some people think it is. [In] the Saudi teams, you can only get eight foreigners in your squad.
“Rodgers’ team are going to spend big this summer. They can go and get eight top-level players. I mean, like, 25-year-old, Champions League level players.
“Are they going to use one of the eight slots for a 33-year-old Callum McGregor? Rodgers maybe would, but the people above him are saying: ‘No, we want to go and get a Tielemans, we want to go and get a so-and-so.’
“So I don’t know, I don’t think it’s quite as clear-cut as that. As just saying, ‘Ach, I’ll go to Saudi.’.”
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Which key Celtic players could leave this summer?
A major rebuild beckons for Celtic this summer, with a number of key players looking likely to leave.
Daizen Maeda says he plans to play in the Premier League as he enters the final year of his contract at Celtic Park.
Also planning to leave is Arne Engels, who is of interest to RB Leipzig and Lazio. The midfielder attracted significant interest in January, but stayed put.
Benjamin Nygren has various suitors, but may want to kick on after just one season in Glasgow. Reo Hatate and McGregor have also been linked away.
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