Opinion: Celtic will look to move on trio before transfer window closes
The Celtic squad keeps evolving as Ange Postecoglou moulds it the way he feels that will best suit the club, and that has included players joining and leaving the club.
Four players have joined the club this January, whilst leaving the club have been Moritz Jenz, Josip Juranovic and very likely Georgios Giakoumakis.
Looking at the squad as it stands, there are three players who the Bhoys will be looking to move on before the transfer window slams shut on the 31st of January, as they have either not been involved for the first-team, or they are a fringe player who would be better off leaving the club.
The first is Oliver Abildgaard, who joined the Hoops from Rubin Kazan in the summer. He has made nine appearances for the Bhoys, but he hasn’t come close to the Celtic starting line-up. There seems to be some dispute if his one-year deal at the Hoops was a loan or permanent deal, but if there is any way that the Bhoys can move the player on in this window, they should.
Yousuke Ideguchi has been unlucky after joining the Hoops last January along with countrymen Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate. He suffered a bad knee injury during his one Celtic start against Alloa, and he has not made a start for the Bhoys since.
With the number of central midfielders the Bhoys have in the squad, then it would make sense for both the player and the club if the Japanese talent moved on during the January transfer window.
The third player is goalkeeper Conor Hazard, who recently returned to Celtic Park following a loan spell at HJK Helsinki. Looking at the current Hoops goalkeeping situation, Hazard looks to be the fourth choice Celtic goalkeeper, and it would, again, be the best thing for the player and the club to move on from Celtic, especially as he has got used to playing first-team football away from Celtic Park.
The most likely departures would be Ideguchi and Hazard, as they haven’t been involved in the first-team squad at all, whilst as Abildgaard’s contract expires at the end of the season, and he has been involved in the first-team at times, he might stay, although you have to think that he will be on the fringes of the Celtic midfield at the very best.
Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou will do what he thinks is best for the players that will be leaving the Hoops and the club, and that could mean that the Bhoys are moving on some more players before the transfer window closes.
James McCarthy ?
Exactly what I was thinking!
Cant always works out but fans will understand cut the squad keep b team hungry when they know there’s not a log jam to squad
He´s injured right now so nobody will take a punt although if fit he could easily do a job for a half decent side..
James Mccarthy should be the first one on list to leave pointless him being their taking a wage injury prone then ideguchi as well .
James mc carty is not good enough to play for celtic he is to lazy maybe he should join mouton athletic s
This is funny, it was the Celtic support who on every site wanted James as Broony was leaving. He was going to be the next SOC. But after a while it was get rid who wanted him e.t.c.