Celtic are bracing for a busy summer of outgoings, with a trio of European clubs chasing one of their fringe players and two others expected to leave Parkhead before the new season gets underway.
The Hoops have built serious depth in their squad over recent years, but that has inevitably left some players on the edges of Brendan Rodgers’s plans. Now, with pre-season approaching, the club is facing up to the reality that several players will need to move on to get regular football.
Manager Brendan Rodgers has already acknowledged the situation around one midfielder who has made clear he wants to leave the club. The Northern Irishman did not hold back when asked about the player’s future, effectively confirming that a departure is on the cards if the right offer comes in. It is rarely a good sign when a manager publicly admits a player is looking for a way out, and Celtic will be keen to get any deals wrapped up quickly rather than let the uncertainty drag into the new season.
The most in-demand of the fringe players has attracted attention from no fewer than three clubs on the continent, which will give Celtic some decent leverage when it comes to negotiating a fee. European interest of that kind tends to drive up prices, and the Parkhead board will be hoping to turn what could have been a headache into a reasonable bit of transfer business.
Two other players are also set to leave, though the details around their situations are slightly different. Neither has forced the issue in the same public way, but the writing appears to be on the wall for both in terms of their futures at the club. With Celtic competing on multiple fronts domestically and in Europe, Rodgers needs players who are fully committed and ready to contribute when called upon. Players sitting unhappily on the fringes are rarely good for team spirit, and the manager will know that better than most.
Celtic have become increasingly shrewd in the transfer market over recent seasons, bringing in players at the right price and moving them on for profit when the time is right. The club’s recruitment team has earned a strong reputation for identifying talent before it becomes expensive, and the same sharp thinking is expected to apply when it comes to selling.
For the players involved, a summer move makes sense on every level. Regular first-team football is everything for a professional footballer, especially those at the peak of their careers or trying to push into international contention. Sitting in the stands at Celtic Park, no matter how impressive the stadium or how big the club, does nothing for a player’s development or their market value.
Rodgers will be keeping a close eye on how the summer unfolds, knowing that every departure creates space on the wage bill and potentially in the squad for new arrivals. Celtic have already been linked with several targets as they look to strengthen ahead of another crack at the Scottish Premiership title and a return to European competition.
The next few weeks will be telling. Transfer windows have a habit of moving slowly at first before suddenly accelerating, and Celtic will want clarity on their fringe players sooner rather than later. With European clubs already sniffing around, at least one of those deals could be done and dusted before the summer is out.