Chris Sutton reveals the key to unlocking vital Celtic double deal

Chris Sutton believes that shifting the deadwood is the trigger to future signings at Celtic. 

Boli Bolingoli, Albian Ajeti and Vasilis Barkas were brought in under the Neil Lennon/Peter Lawwell regime for decent fees and contracts. 

Ajeti provided some promising early flickers that he was a poacher in the Gary Hooper mould but that notion was killed off last season when the goals dried up. 

Barkas and Bolingoli never convinced, even out of the team there has been a distinct lack of interest from other clubs in ‘snapping them up’. 

Around £12m in transfer fees can be written off but wages are an on-going drain on the club while the presence of three players with virtually no chance of playing time won’t help the morale in the Lennoxtown changing rooms. 

Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jota have both contributed more in four months than either of the trio above but it is going to take serious money to convert their loan deals into permanent moves. 

Drawing the two issues together in the Daily Record, Sutton explains: 

The squad needs strengthened in terms of quality but also streamlined because it’s bloated. 

It’s a situation that needs addressing and the dead wood – players on big wages – need to be moved on. 

It’s better to cut your losses because there will be deals to be had and a little bit of money can be recouped. 

That’ll free up cash and wages to get Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jota tied down on permanent deals. Celtic should be doing all they can to make both loan stars their own. 

It doesn’t take a genius to work out who needs to go – it’s glaring that for three players in particular their days are numbered. 

Vasilis Barkas, no matter how you look at it, has been money poorly spent. Albian Ajeti and Boli Bolingoli the same. 

Not many fans will disagree with Sutton’s summary but finding buying clubs, even on loan won’t be an easy task.