Celtic hero, John Hartson reckons the Hoops may sell goalscoring midfielder David Turnbull next month when the January transfer window opens up. The Welshman is admittedly a big fan of the ex-Motherwell academy graduate and has espoused the belief that he would be worth keeping around the club. However, he also reckons that Brendan Rodgers may have other ideas about the squad.
Turnbull was one who caught the eye during pre-season this year and was included in the opening day of the season against Ross County as we unfurled the League Flag. Turnbull scored a brace that day as the Bhoys downed Malky MacKay’s team 4-2 to get off and running for the campaign. In that scenario, it looked like David may have been one of the success stories on Brendan Rodgers’ return to the club.
St Johnstone v Celtic, Cinch Scottish Premiership, Football, McDiarmid Park, Perth, UK – 03 Dec 2023 Photo Mark Runnacles/Shutterstock
Despite this good start to the Scottish Premiership in 2023/24, the midfielder hasn’t really managed to keep that consistency going and as a result, has been in and out of the starting line-up.
The boss even revealed that for European games, he needs a more mobile player in the engine room, which is why he has turned to Benfica loanee, Paulo Bernardo, as the final man in that midfielder trio alongside Matt O’Riley and Callum McGregor.
Photo Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock
With an ongoing stand-off relating to an extension on the player’s contract, Hartson is reasoning that he could be one of the stars involved in the much-anticipated cull.
“Sometimes the writing can be on the wall,” he said to The Go Radio Football Show. “I like David Turnbull. He’s one of those players who can come back with double figures and are worth their weight in gold. Whether or not Brendan has got different ideas in terms of bringing in another midfielder or the other players he’s got at the football club, with Reo Hatate still to come back, who knows?
Celtic v Aberdeen – David Turnbull poses with the trophy after the cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park, Saturday May 27, 2023. Photo Andrew Milligan
“I like the lad but it looks like the writing is on the wall. I don’t think Celtic have offered him a new contract, or maybe they have and he’s turned it down. I don’t know. He’s in and out isn’t he? He’s not one of your McGregors or O’Rileys. He’s out for a week and then comes back in and gets taken off. So my immediate thoughts are he’s one of the players they would look to sell in January.”
Turnbull good against the wee teams but never steps up in bigger games imo. He slows the game down way too much & is the main culprit when we just play possession & have no dynamic in the midfield. Not enough through balls or forward passes, for me. Good strike on the bhoy, but a decent squad player only. Never a consistent first pick BR has consistently said he’s not mobile enough, not enough energy, not dynamic, need to do more etc etc .. but, DT STILL plays the same way. Boring guy (watch his Open Goal interview .. yaaawwwwnnnn!) & boring player .. albeit with a great strike on him.