They say that it takes a manager four transfer windows to bring in the players needed to truly put his mark on a football club.
It probably takes roughly the same amount of time to get rid of the deadwood that they inherit.
This month Brendan Rodgers faces many of the problems that he encountered during the summer as he tries to move on players who have no place in his Celtic plans.
Kris Commons has already moved to Hibs on an emergency loan, that deal is likely to be extended through to the end of the season with Celtic continuing to pick up the bulk of the midfielders wages.
Players in the final year of their contract are slightly easier to manage than those with two or more years to run on their deals.
Very few players are going to make a career move that involves a significant cut in wages, they’ve worked hard to get their current contract and are in no rush to return to more ordinary salaries.
Throwing in a pay-off can be a dangerous road to go down with clubs reluctant to reward players while more productive team-mates are providing a return on the park.
Rodgers is unlikely to have any role to play in the departures of players, having identified those surplus to requirements it’s upto the suits to find new employers.
OH EFE
There has barely been a word said about the defender since the summer transfer window closed.
Claims of interest from Germany, Greece and China have fallen quiet with word coming out that the defender wants to remain in the UK to acquire residency.
His Celtic days are long gone but it looks like he’ll remain at the club till the end of the season with no club prepared to take on his current terms and offer a deal beyond the summer.
BAILLY OUT?
Being third choice keeper can either be an easy life or a source of frustration. By the close of the transfer window we’ll know which category the Belgian keeper falls into.
After picking up an injury during pre-season training Bailly only returned to full fitness in October- by which time Craig Gordon had been dropped but fought back to reclaim his place from Dorus de Vries.
In last season’s outings Bailly looked a reliable deputy but unlikely to challenge Gordon which is why Celtic will be happy to see the Belgian move on.
DEDRYCK BOYATA
The defender with the perfect pedigree but a lack of clubs interested in his services.
With one Celtic appearance this season he seems to have recovered full fitness but finds Mikael Lustig preferred as back up to Jozo Simunovic.
As a full internationalist and having been developed by Manchester City he shouldn’t be struggling for a club but matching the terms of his four year Celtic contract is more likely to be the issue.
THE GMS DEBATE
The return of Scott Sinclair and James Forrest to fitness look to have finished off GMS’ prospects of making a breakthrough under Brendan Rodgers.
While the Celtic boss hasn’t been slow to praise the former Dundee United man it’s hard to see him emulating the form of Stuart Armstrong.
A loan spell may offer an outside chance of retiring to Celtic in the summer but at 26-years-of-age it looks more likely that his future lies elsewhere
NADIR CIFTCI
It’s already been confirmed that Celtic are prepared to part with the striker but finding a buyer after 18 fruitless months his star is fast fading.
A four year contract offers the former Dundee United man plenty of security but Ciftci looks the type who’d rather earn their money rather than sit around.
Another loan spell in Turkey looks the most likely solution but that will only kick his Celtic future into the long grass until the summer.
Like Bailly and Boyata the striker is sitting on a four year contract.