Callum McGregor Saudi Rumours And Brendan Rodgers Reunion Whispers & The Unsettling Question Around Our Next Captain 

For years, this conversation never really existed.

Callum McGregor was the captain.

Voice in the dressing room.

The standard setter.

A player who understood exactly what this club demanded every single week.

But with Saudi rumours now starting to circle again, there’s suddenly a very uncomfortable question sitting there for all of us.

What happens if he actually goes? Leaving to join Rodgers in Saudi?

Because once you remove McGregor from this dressing room, the leadership group suddenly looks a lot thinner than people realise.

Schmeichel has retired.

Oxlade-Chamberlain is leaving at this stage.

So is Iheanacho.

And suddenly you’re looking around thinking… who actually becomes the voice of this squad?

Which is why I mentioned in a previous article that adding leadership this summer is absolutely essential.

Not just talent.

Not just resale value.

Actual personalities.

Because this squad has lacked that.

And if McGregor leaves, that issue becomes impossible to ignore.

Tierney Is The Obvious Choice… But There’s Risk

If McGregor leaves tomorrow, most people instantly hand the armband to Kieran Tierney.

And emotionally, it makes complete sense.

He understands the club.

The supporters adore him.

He’s one of us.

But it becomes difficult building and recognising someone as a captain; you can’t guarantee they will play every week.

That doesn’t mean he couldn’t still be captain.

He probably still becomes favourite immediately.

But it does mean the leadership group around him becomes even more important.

Alistair Johnston Feels Like A Captain Already

In terms of leaders, Johnston’s name comes to mind immediately.

Even beyond the football, he carries himself like somebody who understands responsibility here.

You hear it in interviews.

You see it after bad performances.

You see it in how he reacts during games.

I’ve already spoken before about his importance on and off the pitch, but leadership is probably the biggest part of it now.

The only concern?

Minutes.

Because Johnston’s body has broken down this season.

And if he’s going to become captain, we need him playing two games a week.

Carter-Vickers Is The Quiet Option

Carter-Vickers is another obvious candidate.

Respected.

Calm under pressure.

Has stayed at the club through his best years.

And when fit, probably still the most important defender at the club.

But again, there are questions.

I don’t think he’s naturally vocal – neither is McGregor – but i’d like the next captain to be more vocal.

He leads more through consistency than personality.

And while that absolutely works for some captains, it feels different for us where presence matter so much publicly.

There’s the injury concern again.

Can you give someone the captaincy whose body constantly needs managing?

This Summer Isn’t Just About Signings

That’s why this transfer window feels bigger than just replacing players.

It’s about replacing personalities.

This squad already feels young in places.

Feels quiet at times.

And I don’t think it has enough personality for when things turn difficult.

That’s not disregarding last season, but all the key players in the run-in – Iheanacho, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Nygren, Engels, Maeda, and Hatate – are all leaving.

For the majority of the season Carter-Vickers and Johnston were not available. This is likely Forrest’s last upcoming season, and Schmeichel has retired. 

McGregor may not leave this summer, but his minutes need more managing.

It’s not to be negative after such a great season – it’s to look forward and plan.

We’ll be rebuilding the entire squad this summer, and when all these new players need reminding what it means to play for Celtic, we need more examples to turn too.

And that’s a much bigger responsibility than people realise.