Ismaila Soro isn’t part of the 35 man Celtic squad in Austria for pre-season training.Â
The midfielder started Celtic’s first five competitive matches of last season but as Ange Potecoglou got his squad in shape Soro dropped slowly out of the picture.Â
In January Fortuna Sittard were credited with an interest in the 24-year-old, that move fell through with a brief appearance off the bench in the February 2 Glasgow Derby the last time that Soro played for Celtic.Â
Yosuke Ideguchi and James McCarthy started in Wednesday’s friendly against Wiener Viktoria, Liam Shaw replaced McCarthy after an hour with no sign of Soro.Â
Updating the ins and outs at Celtic, The Sun mentioned:Â Â
Definitely heading away from the champions are keeper Ross Doohan, who is joining Tranmere Rovers, and midfielder Ismaila Soro, who was left out of the squad that flew to Austria.Â
With a contract running until May 2024 it is unlikely that Celtic will find a club prepared to match Soro’s wages.Â
Last month Utrecht took Vasilis Barkas on a season long loan, getting another club to pay part of Soro’s wages looks like the simplest way of moving the midfielder on.Â
I have no idea why we take a 35 man squad when we need to get them up & running for the new season, plus any late additions. Surely it would be better to split into 2 x squads and get them ALL fully fit. Playing half games is no good for anyone, we saw the drop off in the 2nd half. Some of these guys have no future, so why give them game time at first team level. I’m all for promoting young players, BUT only if they deserve the chance, better to give them 90 mins at a lower level, 3 x keepers v a regional select, I could have played in goal.
2 squads would required 2 coaching teams working apart. Better that they are all in one location, for consistency of coaching, fitness management and teambuilding. Not al 35 will be playing a major part next season but the younger lads will benefit from being a part of the set up and appreciate what is required to get into the first team.
I always felt that Soro could be coached into becoming a first team regular. Shame it didnae work out.