This summer is an exciting time to be a Celtic supporter, not only will we be seeing a major overhaul in the footballing departments but there will be a new CEO coming in which will hopefully be a huge boost for Celtic in modernising footballing operations. There will undoubtably be a high turnover of players coming in and going out of the club and in this article we will look at the current players to see if they will stay at Celtic and be a part of the rebuild next season or who will be shown the exit door in the summer.
GOALKEEPERS
It‘s been a massive problem for Celtic this season and has been a huge part of our downfall this season. Questions need to be raised of why we haven’t sorted our goalkeeping situation and we’re at the business end of this season, why is it that our £5million goalkeeper has played a handful of games? It’s shown our recruitment and management team right up. We failed to replace Fraser Forster and now the third choice goalkeeper of last season is now first choice. Scott Bain will always be a good second choice for Celtic and that’s it. Conor Hazard the third choice who once became first choice this season has recently signed a new 2 year-deal therefore he will be at Celtic next season. So what does that mean for Vasilis Barkas? He’s had a terrible first season at Celtic and it might be his only season at Celtic showing poor display’s in Europe and in the Glasgow Derby games, there is real question marks over him and I say we cut our losses in the summer and bring in a new established number 1.
Barkas: Sell
Bain: Keep
Hazard: Keep
DEFENDERS
Let‘s start with the central defenders of which we need 2 or 3 more of in the summer, Kristoffer Ajer has 1 year left on his deal and in a very poor Celtic season he has been one of the shining lights with his passionate play but if he’s not willing to sign a further contract it may be best to punt him in the summer. The Norwegian has had several central defensive partners this season such as Stephen Welsh who just turned 21 and is one for the future he has proven that he could be a Celtic centre-half in the future, Christopher Jullien who will certainly be at Celtic next season however he has a long-term injury so might not feature for Celtic in the first-half of next season, Nir Bitton who after 8 years at Celtic it could be time up, after some poor performances this season Nir might want to return to his homeland or get a move elsewhere in Europe and Shane Duffy who the less said about the Irish captain the better, it’s been a horrendous time for him in Glasgow and I’m not sure Celtic will want to secure a second loan deal... Only one full-back will remain at Celtic this summer and that’ll be Greg Taylor, he deserves to be apart of the squad next season after contributing to a lot of Celtic‘s goals this season. Diego Laxalt and Jonjoe Kenny will return to their parent clubs, Laxalt has failed to impress after a good start and Kenny isn’t good enough to secure a permanent deal.
Ajer: Sell
Welsh: Keep
Jullien: Keep
Bitton: Sell
Duffy: Return
Taylor: Keep
Laxalt: Return
Kenny: Return
MIDFIELDERS
After 14 years at Celtic Scott Brown’s time is up. It will be best for him if he moves on and with his contract up at the end of the season he might at 36 want to go into coaching or he may sign a one-year extension but ultimately he will play a bit part role in Celtic’s rebuild. Two players who need to be central to the rebuild is Callum McGregor and David Turnbull, the two Scots have found it difficult at times this season with Callum playing nearly every game in such an unmotivated and regressing side and the Wishaw Ronaldinho who until December couldn’t get into the side but both most definitely should be a huge part of the new look side next season. Ismailia Soro in December broke into the team bringing real energy to the side and could be given a chance next season to cement a regular first-team place but with the signing of Liam Shaw from Sheffield Wednesday the Ivorian will certainly have tough competition. The one’s going out the door look to be Tom Rogic and Ryan Christie, it is quite obvious both want moves away from Celtic, both have scored many important goals for the Hoops and both should be remembered as good Celtic players, especially the Wizard of Oz who will always be in Celtic folklore after his Invincible Treble winning goal against Aberdeen. Ryan will go with our best wishes as well as it is quite clear he is eyeing up a move to the English Premiership.
Brown: Sell
McGregor: Keep
Turnbull: Keep
Soro: Keep
Christie: Sell
Rogic: Sell
WINGERS
This is an area of the pitch where Celtic need to buy, we’ve played nearly an entire season with no width and this is down to the injuries of James Forrest down the right and Mikey Johnston on the left. No doubt both will be here next season, Forrest goals and assists have been sorely missed this season but hopefully with a run of games from now until the end of the season and potentially games in the summer with Scotland he will be ready to go again next season. Mikey Johnston who has started zero games for Celtic needs to show what he’s all about next season, he needs to be more robust and get himself fit as he can become a star for Celtic but it’s only down to him. He should be given a chance next season to show what he’s made of as he’s clearly got talent. Mohammed Elyounoussi is Celtic’s second top goalscorer this season but played in a more striker‘s role rather than on the wing, sadly Moi has been inconsistent and he won’t be a part of Celtic‘a rebuild next season.
Forrest: Keep
Johnston: Keep
Elyounoussi: Return
STRIKERS
Should Leigh Griffiths be at Celtic next season? I don’t think so. He’s scored more than 100 goals for Celtic and is therefore in a unique club but he’s been given far too many chances and I’m afraid if we are ruthless in this rebuild and want to start acting like a big club, Leigh needs to go. With the formality of Edouard leaving which will be heartbreaking as he’s been a Celtic great during the successful times I think Celtic will keep one of Klimala or Ajeti. I think Celtic out the two will keep Ajeti. Klimala hasn’t shown what he is capable of and he might need a loan move next season or if the new manager doesn’t think he’s up to it he must be sold. This leaves Albian Ajeti who I think could be a part of Celtic’s rebuild, he has shown albeit glimpses of what he can do and although I think we should sign a striker the Swiss forward after one season at Celtic should be given a second season to prove himself further. Next season will be massive for Ajeti in his Celtic career and he should at least with the departure of Edouard and quite possibly Griffiths be given a chance under a new manager.
Edouard: Sell
Griffiths: Sell
Klimala: Sell
Ajeti: Keep
LOANS
Now this might be controversial but after a hugely successful spell in Belgium and Celtic‘s lack of defensive options Jack Hendry should be given a second chance at Celtic Park next season. Oostende have one of the best defensive records in Belgium and Hendry who has recently been given a call up to the Scotland squad for the first time in 2 years has been a key part of this. Others who are out on loan such as Ntcham, Shved, Bayo and Bolingoli have no future at Celtic and will be shown the exit door in the summer.
Hendry: Keep
Ntcham: Sell
Shved: Sell
Bayo: Sell
Bolingoli: Sell
This is going to be a huge summer for Celtic and one that we must get right, this is only one opinion therefore others will have different opinions on other players. Thanks for reading the article, leave any suggestions on what other Celtic related articles you’d like to see.
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