Chris Sutton has named the six players who simply cannot be sold by Celtic this summer if the club is to progress further under the guidance of a new manager after the dramatic events of the past week as the club completed the Treble at Hampden against Inverness Caley Thistle last Saturday only to be rocked by the decision of Ange Postecoglou to leave the club to head to the English Premier League to become the Tottenham Hotspur manager.

Postecoglou has left a very decent squad behind in Glasgow and one that he was preparing for a second crack at the Champions League next season. And with the club’s transfer plans for the summer well down the line these new targets will have to have the seal of approval from whoever is going to replace Postecoglou before money is spent and contracts signed.

Rangers v Celtic Scottish League Cup Final Reo Hatate 41 of Celtic Football Club during the Viaplay League Cup Final match between Rangers and Celtic at Hampden Park, Glasgow, United Kingdom on 26 February 2023. Photo Colin Poultney PSI

However that’s not the immediate priority for Sutton when he considers the Celtic squad for next season. For the former Celtic striker, who will be replacing Andy Walker as the Celtic minded pundit on Sky Sports next season, the top priority for this summer is to hang onto the top players already at the club who have formed the backbone of the successful side built by Ange Postecoglou.

Writing in his Saturday column in Daily Record, the former Celtic striker lists the players who Celtic simply must hang onto for next season if the forward momentum is to be maintained.

Kyogo Furuhashi of Celtic scores his team’s opening goal during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Aberdeen at Celtic Park Stadium on May 24, 2023 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“Kyogo Furuhashi. Not for sale. Cameron Carter Vickers. Not for sale. Reo Hatate. Not for sale. Goes without saying, Callum McGregor. Not for sale. I’d actually also chuck the likes of Jota and Carl Starfelt into that mix,” Sutton wrote.

Carl Starfelt of Celtic embraces teammate Cameron Carter-Vickers after the team’s victory in the Scottish Cup Semi Final match between theRangers and Celtic at Hampden Park on April 30, 2023 i. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“Ange Postecoglou might just have walked out the door of Celtic Park. But the club hierarchy has to give their new manager a proper crack at it. Put simply, that means ensuring key players don’t follow him. My view before Postecoglou left was that, if he was going to try to make progress in the Champions League, those influential individuals had to stay.

“Now the Aussie has disappeared off to Tottenham, it is even more important the crown jewels within the dressing room are placed under lock and key. Postecoglou worked really hard to build the squad and make it strong. What you most definitely do not want to be doing before a new managerial appointment is to deplete it.

“You can’t be whipping the rug away before the guy’s even stepped onto the carpet. Taking this job is going to be challenging enough. The new man needs the best available tools to work with. It doesn’t need me to tell you that Kyogo is the club’s best striker and Carter-Vickers is their best defender. Hatate was my Player of the Year last season and McGregor is, well, just Callum McGregor.

Celtic v Aberdeen – Tomoki Iwata and Jota celebrate after the cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park, Saturday May 27, 2023. Photo Andrew Milligan

“The captain’s position is not up for debate. He’s got a big job to do, he’s steeped in the club and I’m not sure interest from outside of the club would be of any interest to him in any case were it to arrive. However, that stance might not necessarily be the case for the others, most of whom have been taken into Celtic by the man who has now gone.

“I’ve seen plenty of stuff about the fact Postecoglou will come back to Glasgow for Kyogo. The future of Harry Kane is up for debate and, if Real Madrid are serious about the England captain and push forward an offer, you wouldn’t blame him for wanting to go.

Daniel Levy, the Tottenham Hotspur chairman looks on during the Premier League match between Norwich City and Tottenham Hotspur at Carrow Road on May 22, 2022 (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

“Spurs chairman Daniel Levy might say he isn’t leaving, but Postecoglou’s mantra at Celtic was quite simple. If you are with us, you are in. If you are not with us or you feel you might want to be elsewhere, you can just go. Can’t see him changing that approach for Kane. Not when he’s trying to put down his rules and philosophy.

“Levy is surely not going to force a player onto Postecoglou if that player doesn’t want to be around. Or else why appoint him? On the other hand, Kane may listen to the Aussie’s plans and want to stay right where he is. I’m of the opinion, and I might be wrong here, that there might be a guilt thing within Postecoglou as regards going back to Celtic for Kyogo. Like I said, I might be miles out. Despite leaving, I do believe he’ll have a great respect for the club.

“Mind you, football is selfish. Loyalty doesn’t matter. And it was, after all, Postecoglou who was responsible for Celtic even seeing Kyogo in the first place. But it’s just a hunch. And if I am indeed wrong and he does make a proper offer, I do think that, if Postecoglou manages to build the right side at Spurs, Kyogo would be good enough to fit into it,” Sutton stated.

“Most of these main Celtic stars were signed by Postecogou. Jota, for example, has expressed his gratitude at being given the chance. Hatate and Matt O’Riley got their breaks through him. Carter-Vickers and Starfelt.

“Players are used to change. At least they would have the familiar faces of John Kennedy and Gavin Strachan to return to in pre-season, but if Postecoglou gets his hands on that pair as well, it adds another layer of upheaval.

“Before most of these issues are decided, Celtic have to get things right in terms of the manager appointment first and foremost and I’m sure they will. They have time, but not an eternity. You’d want a new guy in there for the start of pre-season.

“Peter Lawwell came in for plenty of criticism from supporters down the years, if it was he who had the big influence on getting Postecoglou in the door and I believe he was, it was an incredible appointment. So he has to be fully trusted again to give right nudges to Dermot Desmond.

“But the last thing any new manager needs is the best of the bunch heading out. That’s the likes of Kyogo, Carter-Vickers, Hatate. Before anyone puts cones out for day one of pre-season training, they should be putting Not for Sale signs around the necks of those boys,” Sutton said.

My @Record_Sport column on the Celtic players who cannot be sold over the summer to make sure the incoming manager is given every possible chance to hit the ground running… your thoughts?? https://t.co/UDlS2au8F4

— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) June 10, 2023

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