Brendan’s departure lounge

With Scott Allan a Dundee player for the season ahead the process of thinning out the Celtic first team squad is well underway.

At two different levels the loan system will be extensively used. For established older players like Allan a season at Dundee helps run down his contract and gives the player a chance to pick up his career, for others like Kristoffer Ajer, Jamie McCart and Aidan Nesbitt getting the right loan is critical to their development towards a first team place.

For the more senior players a loan move is second choice to a permanent deal but with contracts going beyond 2018 going out on loan is the only prospect of getting first team football.

Under Ronny Deila the number of players ballooned with Rodgers having to reduce those numbers while bringing in his own quality signings.

The Irishman is certainly decisive when it comes to the transfer market- by the start of next season Scott Brown is likely to be the only player remaining from the squad that won the title for Neil Lennon in 2012.

Having set such a high standard in terms of recruitment in his first season Rodgers will be looking to maintain those levels- by moving on the players that can’t reach his standards the hoops boss is further imposing his demands on the club.

CHRISTIAN GAMBOA

After less than a season it seems like the Costa Rica internationalist could be on the move.

Anthony Ralston’s development has impressed Brendan Rodgers who is looking to develop the teenager into Mikael Lustig’s understudy at right-back.

Gamboa won’t struggle to get a club, a top level Championship team is the most likely destination with the 27-year-old enhancing his reputation over the past season.

ERIK SVIATCHENKO

It was certainly a season of two halves for the Danish defender who was left on the sidelines as Dedryck Boyata returned to favour.

Rodgers has suggested that central defence is one area that he is looking to strengthen with Sviatchenko unlikely to be content at slipping further from the first team picture.

Torino seem to retain a long term interest in Jozo Simunovic which could present Sviatchenko with a reprieve on his Celtic career.

NIR BITTON

Was in and out of the team last season but looks to have slipped out of Rodgers First XI plans.

Callum McGregor finished the season alongside Scott Brown with Eboue Kouassi and Scott Armstrong also contenders for that position.

It’s difficult to see a way back for the Israeli internationalist who should be able to get fixed up on the continent without any problem.

NADIR CIFTCI

Hinted on Instagram that an egg-timer is running on his Celtic career but it could be a two year countdown with his contract running until 2019.

A loan spell in Poland failed to provide a single goal and ended with an early return due to injury.

Like Scott Allan there is no way back for the former Dundee United man, his agent Pierre van Hooijdonk will be trying to get him fixed up on the continent.

LOGAN BAILLY

With a year to go on his three year deal the Belgian looks certain to be on his way, being third choice keeper must be demoralising at times.

One ten minute substitute appearance at Tynecastle was the sum of his activity last season with an emergency loan to Raith Rovers rejected.

Aston Villa were linked with the 31-year-old but it’ll be the keeper that call the shots on whether he stays or goes.

SAIDY JANKO

It seems that a move to Bristol City is somewhere down the line with his appearance away to Hapoel Beer Sheva his final game as a Celt.

Life Cifti and Allan he was one of those strange signings in the summer of 2015 with little impact made on the first team.

His pedigree as a Swiss youth internationalist from Manchester United promised a lot but the reality was underwhelming.

GARY MACKAY-STEVEN

Falls into that category of players that impressed against Celtic but failed to make the big transition of hitting the heights every week.

His Celtic career started off promisingly but he failed to recover from falling out of favour under Ronny Deila.

While Stuart Armstrong’s career took off under Brendan Rodgers GMS was on the sidelines through injury and failed to sparkle when recalled into the side.