Opinion: Contract status means Celtic have no need to sell heroes of 21/22
A big problem for Celtic last summer was the contract status of some key players at the club. The likes of Odsonne Edouard, Ryan Christie and Kristoffer Ajer had all entered the last year of their contracts with the club, and as a result it was inevitable that they would depart, and indeed the trio had left Celtic by the end of the summer transfer window.
The good news for the Hoops though is that the club seems to have learned a lesson since then, and as it stands there is no need for any of the title winning heroes of season 2021/22 to be sold due to their contract status at the club.
Looking at the contract status of the Hoops squad, the club have number of important players under contract until 2026.
Callum McGregor, Giorgos Giakoumakis, Josip Juranovic, Matt O’Riley, Reo Hatate and Liel Abada are all under contract at the club for another four years.
There is a chance that some of those players might leave the Hoops before the end of their contracts – but if that is the case, the length of the contract should dictate that the Hoops will get a lot of money should any of the players leave.
Getting players tied down to long-term contracts is something that every club should look to do, as it lessens the chances of players leaving a club on a free transfer, and usually means that the team will get good money when a player eventually does decide to leave.
That is why it is good that Celtic have so many players committed on long-term deals, to avoid the issues of the past.
Celtic seem to be building a squad that will hopefully be at the club for a number of years, even if Ange Postecoglou is not the first-team manager, and that is smart thinking by the club, as the team needs a spine that will hopefully be at the club for at least the next three years.
Celtic don’t have any contracts that are expiring in the near future, unless it is a player that has joined on loan, or a player who seems out of favour, like Karamoko Dembele seems to be, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him depart the Hoops over the next few weeks.
With any signings that Celtic make this season, the Hoops should continue to give the new players long-term deals, as for the most part, short-term contracts, like a two-year deal for example, aren’t really worth it for the Bhoys. The club needs to continue on the current path it is on with long-term deals.
Karamoko Dembele, been touted as the next great footballer since he was around 10 years old; hasn’t really lived up to the hype thus far!
Now 19 years old, and looked out his depth any time I’ve seen him play in the senior team, is he worth holding on to in the hope he can take the step up!?
Great players have usually cemented a place in clubs first teams by his age, some much younger, though you could make a case for him being a late developer, contrary to his early promise?
if he was as great as his early reputation then he would not be at celtic….he’s behind jota forrest maeda or abada plus Ange hasn’t played him from the start in any game this yr sad but time to go for his own career same with mikey johnstone though he’s older & prone to injury.