As pre-season gets closer, Brendan Rodgers must now decide what to do with several Celtic players returning from loan.
Each player had a very different season away from the Hoops. Now back at Lennoxtown, their futures are up in the air. Some may stay, others may be sold or loaned out again.
Luis Palma spent part of last season on loan at Olympiacos in Greece. He played 12 times and scored one goal. Although Olympiacos won the league, they chose not to make his move permanent.
Palma struggled for minutes under Rodgers before leaving and might still not fit into the Irishman’s plans. Celtic may sell him this summer if a good offer comes in. Another loan move is also possible if no club offers a fee Celtic accept.
Marco Tilio went back to Australia to play for Melbourne City. He had a much better season there, scoring five goals and providing five assists. Tilio helped his team win the A-League title.
Despite doing well, his future at Celtic remains uncertain. Rodgers may give him a chance to fight for a place, but another loan or even a permanent move could be possible if it looks like he won’t get much playing time.
Gustaf Lagerbielke was on loan at FC Twente in the Netherlands. He played 32 games and became a regular in their defence. Twente wanted to keep him, but Celtic’s asking price was said to be too high.
Lagerbielke will return for pre-season and try to impress Rodgers. Celtic are also looking to sign another centre-back, which could make it harder for him to stay. If new defenders arrive, Lagerbielke could leave on loan again or be sold if an offer comes in.
Kwon Hyeok-Kyu joined Hibernian for the season. He made 21 league appearances but didn’t score. Kwon struggled to secure a regular place in the team.
Celtic already have a strong midfield, so his chances of staying are slim. A permanent transfer seems likely, but if no deal can be reached, another loan could be arranged.
Stephen Welsh went on loan to KV Mechelen in Belgium in January. He played regularly, starting 15 games and scoring once. Mechelen would like to sign him permanently, but any deal depends on whether they can agree on a fee with Celtic. Welsh’s future at Celtic is not certain.
Rodgers has some big choices to make as Celtic get ready for the new season. With Champions League qualifiers in August, and the league title to defend, Celtic’s squad will need to be strong.
The futures of Palma, Tilio, Lagerbielke, Kwon, and Welsh will soon become clear as the transfer window moves forward, with all looking likely to leave in some form, whether it is another loan or a permanent move away.
