One twitter account has suggested that upto 16 players could leave Celtic in the summer.
Last year there was an unprecedented turnover of players but the focus was mainly on new arrivals as Ange Postecoglou rebuilt a squad that had been kept together at least a year too long.
Prior to the arrival of the former Yokohama Marinos Celtic had built up a worrying number of players contributing very little. Hatem Abd Elhamed and Patryk Klimala were moved on early in 2021 but the Lawwell legacy lingers on with Albian Ajeti, Vasilis Barkas, Boli Bolingoli and Ismaila Soro still on the payroll.
Out:
Soro
Ajeti
Barkas
Boli
Johnston
Jullien
Dembele
Forrest
McCarthy
Bain
Shaw
Montgomery
Hazard
Urhoghide
Luca
McInroy https://t.co/RKlBogM36m— ????????????????????????????? Celtic SC©®™ (@Celtic67Fins72) April 25, 2022
Jonathan Afolabi and Ross Doohan could be added to that list but like Luca Connell and Kerr McInroy their first team status can be questioned. With his form for Ayr United, McInroy won’t be short of offers, possibly from Premiership clubs.
James Forrest, Scott Bain and James McCarthy are unlikely to be on the move.
Chris Jullien looks like being one of the biggest issues, signed in July 2019 for £7m he has made one substitute appearance this season and rarely makes the matchday squad.
After virtually 18 months with barely any football it is unlikely that someone else will be offering to match his Celtic wages- and equally unlikely he will be offered a renewal on similar terms.
Liam Shaw and Osaze Urhoghide look very unlikely to add to their one Celtic appearance, against Real Betis in December. Like Jullien they won’t find the same terms at Celtic available elsewhere.
Last summer’s rebuild was largely funded by selling Kris Ajer and Odsonne Edouard, it is unlikely that any significant sums will be incoming from the list above but a proper clear out will assist Postecoglou’s plans.
About the James McCarthy situation .. unless he is swapped with another home trained player then I can´t see it happening. One of the plusses in his signing that was reported at the time was the fact that he assisted in the UEFA criteria. There are quota numbers of players that need to be registered , being trained both in the club and in the country that he and indeed the likes of Mikey and Forrest assist in meeting. Therefore unless they are replaced with similar criteria meeting players .. can´t see the club risking a UEFA forfeit ??!