CELTIC need a big squad to cope with the rigours of high intensity Ange ball, but the squad is still there to be trimmed.
We’ve brought in two players in already and it’s not even January. Signs point to perhaps another signing before January is over.
The Celtic squad is looking healthy, but as we look to January and the summer, there’s some players we need to get off the wages. Here are three players currently sent out on-loan by the club that the Hoops need to cut ties with either in the winter or summer window.
It’s more difficult to get rid of unwanted players in January, especially if they’re on loan, but not impossible. However, we’d expect the three below to be moved on by July 2023.
Ismaila Soro
Brought in by Neil Lennon and champions by fans to take over from Scott Brown. During the pandemic season, our midfield was pedestrian and not up to scratch. Soro provided energy and had fans believing he could be the answer. Neil Lennon didn’t see it that way and neither did Ange Postecoglou. Soro not used very much at all, even when Ange was short of players at the very beginning of his reign. The midfielder is a walking yellow card, or worse. While he seems like a very affable character, he’s just not up to the standard we need. Currently out on loan at Arouca, it’s very clear the man from Ivory Coast won’t be a Celtic player much longer.
Vasilis Barkas
To his credit, the Greek goalkeeper is debilitating himself at FC Utrecht. It feels like the goalkeeper has made more saves in one game for Utrecht than his entire Celtic career. A signing made before the pandemic season kicked off. He’s another player from the Neil Lennon/Nicky Hammond era that needs moved on.
If he continues to play well, Celtic could recoup some of he cash they paid out. But I’d be surprised if Barkas was here beyond next summer.
Albian Ajeti
The Swiss striker was famously signed instead of Ivan Toney [I’m not rehashing that story again!]. We thought we’d signed a natural poacher and someone who could be there to knock in the goals while our wingers and attacking midfielders could feed the ball into him. Things didn’t work out at all.
It’s worth mentioning Ajeti was very unsure of signing for Celtic and it took several calls from Neil Lennon to get the forward to sign. Under Ange, the striker got some game time when both Kyogo and Giakoumakis were injured. He did his bit at the beginning of the double winning season but faded away quickly. Albian is not built for Ange ball and is currently out on loan at Sturm Graz where he’s scored two goals in nine appearances. We’re definitely going to have to take a loss on Ajeti.
