Opinion: Celtic may find it difficult to move on Hoops outcasts

There is no doubt that Celtic will be busy in the summer transfer window, hopefully the Hoops will make some signings that will improve both the squad and the starting line-up.

If players are brought into the club, you have to think that some players will be moving on in the summer as well. However, that could prove to be easier said than done. A few players that Celtic would like to move on have long-term contracts at the club.

If we look at Hoops goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas, he is undoubtedly one of the players that the Bhoys will be hoping to move on.

He is currently third choice goalkeeper at the club, and his chances of first-team football are remote. However, when you look at his contract, it runs until 2024, another two years. Unless a team in his homeland of Greece are interested in signing Barkas permanently, the best that Celtic can hope for is the player leaving on loan.

The same is true of midfielder Ismaila Soro and striker Albian Ajeti. Both of those players are out of the first-team picture at Celtic, and the duo have been pushed further down the pecking order by the Hoops’ transfer business in January.

Similar to Barkas, both of those players are out of contract in 2024. Once more, loan deals might be the best way for the Hoops to get the players off the wage bill, even for a season.

If Celtic can get those three players sold, then it would surely allow Celtic to bring in more signings. However, it will likely be difficult to get the players off the books on a permanent basis.

Ange Postecoglou will have his ideas about who he wants to leave Celtic, and hopefully none of the important players to the side will leave like happened in last season’s summer transfer window.

Celtic should only be looking to move on fringe players, unless the club gets an offer it can’t refuse for one of the top performers at Celtic Park.

Only time will tell how many players will leave Celtic in the summer, but the Hoops should be looking to build a squad that can compete in both Europe and in Scotland, which is why it should be fringe players that the club is looking to offload in the summer transfer window.

However, as has been outlined above, the Hoops might find it difficult to offload some of the fringe players, but it would be the best for the players and the club if they moved on from Celtic Park.