A lot of the focus at Celtic is on who could enter the building on transfer deadline day, but what about who could leave?
One thing Celtic fans love about Martin O’Neill is how he handles himself in the media and his brutal honesty relating to any topic.
That was proven after Celtic’s win over Falkirk on Sunday, when O’Neill was pretty open and honest about how certain unnamed players are feeling about sitting on the bench.
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What Martin O’Neill has said about Celtic’s fringe players…
Celtic’s legendary coach admitted that there is a sense of ‘frustration’ with some players who aren’t playing as regularly as they would like.
But those individuals, whom he didn’t name, will be allowed to leave on transfer deadline day, on one condition, as he told his Celtic press conference.
“There are one or two of the lads here who haven’t played much football,” said O’Neill. “I can understand frustrations. I know that.
“And if we can get some people in. I don’t mind some players, maybe going on loan, who haven’t played and desperately want to play. It’s alright having a cause here. Like anything else, but if you aren’t playing, there is a natural frustration. So, we will see what develops in that.
“I am not talking about Arne (Engels). I am talking in general. If nothing develops in the next 24 hours, then I would rather keep them because we would need them. They may not see that, at this minute, but if we stay in competitions, then we will need them.”
How many Celtic signings are you expecting on Deadline Day?
So, who could leave Celtic on transfer deadline day…
Just having a general gaze over O’Neill’s two interim spells in charge, you are starting to see players whom he quite likes, and those he is unsure of.
And in some cases, some aren’t even making the matchday squad, which is a problem in itself.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha
To think that Celtic paid £5 million for Michel-Ange Balikwisha in the summer, yet now, he isn’t even making the matchday squad, tells you everything you need to know.
Celtic beat Falkirk on Sunday, and once again, Balikwisha was nowhere to be seen, and he didn’t make yet another matchday squad.
And with the Hoops set to sign two forwards on transfer deadline day – Junior Adamu and Joel Mvuka – it might just open the door for Balikwisha to leave on loan.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha: flop or unfairly treated?
Paulo Bernardo
There was a time when Paulo Bernardo was showing real promise in a Celtic shirt, and many were happy to see his loan deal from Benfica turned into a permanent transfer.
But, not just under O’Neill, but during the last 18 months, it seems as though Bernardo’s progress has gone backwards, alongside his game time.
| Bernardo’s games under O’Neill | Starts | Unused substitute | Total minutes |
| 7 | 1 | 7 | 139 |
Stephen Welsh
It’s pretty clear that Stephen Welsh is the fourth-choice centre-back. All season long, Welsh has been impressing and progressing for Motherwell, only to be recalled by Celtic to sit on the bench.
If anybody is frustrated with such a turn of events, then it would be him. This situation doesn’t suit anybody, and you wouldn’t be surprised if he leaves on transfer deadline day.
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