Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has made no bones about his wish to trim his bloated squad ahead of the transfer deadline.
Making early inroads in the window, the Irishman managed to offload Yosuke Ideguchi, Hyeokkyu Kwon and Adam Montgomery in various directions; however, the latter has been recalled for treatment after suffering a serious injury.
Nevertheless, Rodgers and his backroom staff look to have left the bulk of shifting individuals elsewhere to the last day, with several individuals now believed to be nearing Parkhead exits.
Republic of Ireland winger Mikey Johnston is set to join West Bromwich Albion on loan following his struggle to break in as a first-team starter this term.
On a permanent basis, David Turnbull is expected to join Cardiff City for a fee in the region of £2 million, which is a better alternative than losing him for nothing, given that his contract expires in the summer [Transfermarkt].
Earlier in the day, Melbourne City announced that Marco Tilio has returned to the A-League on loan for the rest of the campaign despite only joining the Hoops last summer for £1.5 million.
Celtic loanee Marco Tilio ‘thrilled’ to be back at Melbourne City
Tilio is on international duty with Australia at the AFC Asian Cup. However, he will now head back to his native country following the conclusion of the Socceroos’ involvement in the competition instead of reporting to Lennoxtown.
Speaking after sealing his loan transfer, he stated [Melbourne City FC official website]: “I’m thrilled to be back at City. The memories and experiences from my time here are unforgettable, and I can’t wait to contribute to the team’s success once again.
“The support from the fans has always been incredible, and I’m eager to create more memorable moments together this season.”
The 22-year-old already has three years of experience plying his trade at AAMI Park, winning three A-League Premierships. In 2020/21, the City Boys went all the way, winning the A-League Championship in the Grand Final against Sydney FC [Guardian].
Marco Tilio’s Celtic future looks to be up in the air
It is hard to know what to take from the news that Tilio has now left Celtic to return to Melbourne on loan, though it doesn’t exactly look encouraging for his future at Parkhead.
Rodgers admitted last November that the winger had found the transition to life in Scotland difficult, which may indicate that allowing the Hurstville-born man to depart on loan is a wise decision for both parties.
Now back in a comfortable environment, Tilio has an opportunity to show his qualities between now and the end of this term, potentially giving the Hoops some food for thought in the process regarding his place within their long-term plans.
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