Oliver Birch 
Marc Atkins/Getty Images Sport
A return to Celtic for Ki Sung-yueng could now be off the cards amid reports the Hoops are unwilling to meet the midfielder’s wage demands.
The former South Korea international has been linked with a move back to Parkhead, after Ki’s father admitted in an interview in December that his son is looking to leave Newcastle this month.
Steve Bruce is also said to be keen on offloading Ki in order to free up his wage bill, the Chronicle’s chief Newcastle United writer Lee Ryder reports.
However Ryder continues by revealing how Celtic are unwilling to meet Ki’s wage demands, with the midfielder earning around £60,000-a-week at Newcastle.
The player’s representatives are looking for clubs to facilitate a move to get the former Sunderland and Swansea City man off United’s wage bill. One of Ki’s former clubs Celtic are interested in taking the retired South Korea skipper on a permanent deal but the Glasgow giants have so far baulked at his wage demands.
READ CELTIC VERDICT
It’s no surprise to hear of Celtic’s reluctance to meet Ki’s wage demands, given the club’s current wage structure.
Hoops duo James Forrest and Callum McGregor are two of the club’s highest earners on around £30,000-a-week at Parkhead, half of what the former South Korea international is on at Newcastle.
Ki would, therefore, have to take a 50 per cent pay cut at the very least to return to Celtic, something that we feel is highly unlikely to happen.
Furthermore, even if Ki is willing to agree to a drop in his wages, Celtic should not agree to re-sign him in our opinion.
The 30-year-old has made just four appearances so far this season, with his last coming in a 37-minute substitute appearance against Rochdale in the FA Cup.
The Chronicle rated his display that day as a 5/10 and labelled him “one-paced;” hardly the type of player we feel the Hoops should be pursuing this month, especially given his wages.
Instead, Celtic should prioritise a move for Ismaila Soro in our opinion, with the defensive midfielder a younger and cheaper option who possesses the qualities the Hoops need in midfield.
