Celtic left-back Boli Bolingoli is likely to be loaned out this season after his secret trip to Spain in breach of the club’s pandemic protocols, The Daily Record has reported on Wednesday.
The defender has been criticised by his boss, Hoops fans and the Scottish Government in the wake of reports he travelled abroad last week before returning to play against Kilmarnock on Sunday, failing to self-isolate.
It has resulted in two Celtic games being postponed against St Mirren and Aberdeen.
The Daily Record report that club chief executive Peter Lawwell and manager Neil Lennon spent most of Tuesday dealing with the fallout of the drama created by Bolingoli.
Signed by Lennon last summer, he is now expected to leave the club on loan, to a destination unknown.
The report comes on the day it was confirmed January 2019 signing Vakoun Bayo left the club to join Ligue 2 side Toulouse on loan for the season.
Bolingoli’s exit will hopefully result in a player arriving at Celtic too, considering the champions are not exactly blessed with depth in the position.
Only Greg Taylor is capable of playing on that side of the defensive line and we’ll need another body in to replace Bolingoli.
The left-back we’ve been most consistently linked with over the last few months has been Hearts youngster Aaron Hickey, but he is being courted by German giants Bayern Munich and Serie A side Bologna.
In truth, regardless of this saga, Bolingoli has really failed to make progress in the first-team despite being given space and time to make the position his own last season.
In total, the Belgian has made 29 appearances for the club (FitbaStats).
Taylor has gradually emerged as Lennon’s first-choice pick. Bolingoli’s exit likely won’t make a difference to the quality of our starting eleven.
Still, to be fully prepared for our ten-in-a-row push, the recruitment team now have to identify viable left-backs before the transfer deadline on October 5th.
In other news, Celtic are said to have submitted an improved offer for Peterborough United striker Ivan Toney.
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