Celtic are looking to offload three high earning players before the end of the summer transfer window. Brendan Rodgers is in the process of reshaping his squad and expects there to be more arrivals before the end of the window.
However, according to Football Scotland, Celtic want to get Ismaila Soro, James McCarthy and Albian Ajeti off of the wage bill. The trio have no future with the Scottish Champions having been excluded from the pre-season camp in Portugal and Japan.
Soro is said to be nearing a move to Ligue 2 with Valenciennes. The Ivorian midfielder was a favourite for a brief spell in the COVID season but that perhaps says more about the season that the reported £2m signing.
The player has made 43 appearances since joining in January 2020 with 19 of these coming last season, Soro was often erratic in the centre of the midfield. With Callum McGregor, Odin Thiago Holm, Reo Hatate, Matt O’Riley and David Turnbull as well as the latest arrival of Busan I-Park midfielder Kwon Hyeok-kyu.
McCarthy arrived at Celtic as a free agent from Crystal Palace in 2021. The player signed a four-year deal, which raised eyebrows; however, he was coming in during a period of upheaval at the club and it was believed that he could potentially step into the shoes of Scott Brown. As it transpired, McCarthy found it challenging to get going. He contracted COVID-19, found himself injured and then found himself out of favour. While Callum McGregor was out, he enjoyed a brief spell in the team but always looked like he was getting up to speed. Two years later and twenty seven appearances later, it would be in everyone’s interests if the player were to be moved on.
Ajeti was signed from David Moyes’ West Ham United in the summer of 2020 as Celtic favoured the Swiss striker over Ivan Toney. Over two seasons, Ajeti has made 48 appearances and found the net on just 9 occasions. With Kyogo and Giorgos Giakoumakis showing their best form in the 2021/22 season, Ajeti slipped out of the picture after Christmas due to an injury. A loan with the option to buy deal was struck in the summer of 2022 with Sturm Graz. The attacker failed to impress and returned to Celtic but was not involved with the pre-season plans under Rodgers. The player is now not willing to leave unless he receives all of his wages for his final year.
There are still weeks remaining and more business to do with incomings and outgoings to come.
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Easier said than done. Pet hate of mine about paying players so much money when they produce nothing towards the club to warrant such a wage.
Of course there is always the option of paying wasters off, just to get them out of the door, but think the club is possibly right with the fuck them attitude, if the players lack any ambition to further there careers elsewhere.
Always going to be mistakes made within a transfer market for many reasons, but in the case of ajeti and McCarthy they still remain as ludicrous decision making and so costly also.
Cant expect a player to take a drop in wages cant ask any man to take a drop on wages GOV try it McCarthy was a bad mistake i know brown was out McGregor injured it was panick buy to appeas some supporters he wont play to many younger players fitter faster for that position so thats why we can move our captain forward and play younger faster Tohm there guys a natural and McGregor comfortable and has a eye for goals need a left back for europe Taylor passing not up to it and was poor against aberdeen rugby park not a place for testing new players but we are forced to play two new signings one plated 2/3 of a game the other making his debut i just hope we win but also no injuries hooe ut raubs cayse thars tge onky way this plastic pitch in makers manual it is to be well watered before games if dry its sticky and sore on muscles aberdeen didnt water tgere pitch stop fast passing football at the risk of injuries SFA should ibsist these pitches should be watered
I think I understand what you’re trying to say, and if so, I don’t disagree with you too much.
On paper, let’s be honest, McCarthy was a superb signing! But his lack of fitness was clearly never taken into consideration!
Then when he got fitter, Ange didn’t give him game time.
Taylor is nothing like the player he was under Ange, because Rodgers wants him to play full back! The position he was signed for! We really are short there! We may find that Johnston is going to find things difficult when he returns too! He doesn’t stay in his position either! We need a Lustig and a Tierney!
That’s a problem, but I also suspect that’s why we now have three good first choice central defenders. We may be looking at a back three.
Time will tell.
Soro is away