Brendan Rodgers will make further changes to his team in the coming week as preparations continue ahead of the new season. Celtic are due to return to Lennoxtown this week after the trip to Japan and Rodgers will be keen to streamline his squad.

Rodgers has been able to cast his eye over the squad in Lennoxtown, Portugal and then Japan. However, there are still some doubts as to who will be moving on and where to if they do leave. The Irishman has watched all of Celtic’s games from the 2022/23 season and will know what he is getting from the vast majority of the first team. However, Rodgers has been keen to see whether there were any peripheral figures in the first team that he can work with but importantly, whether there are bodies to move on.

Liam Scales

Scales spent the season on loan with Aberdeen making 39 appearances, scoring once and assisting on one occasion. The goal was a particularly memorable one given that it was against Rangers and set up the Celts to win the league away to Hearts. The Dubliner is a left-sided central defender predominately but was only really used as a left-back by Ange.

Despite being signed by Jim Goodwin, new Dons boss Barry Robson is reportedly keen on bringing the Irishman back to Pittodrie and it is likely that they will be keen on getting an answer from Celtic regarding the 24-year-old. Scales looked reasonably composed in the game against Gamba Osaka, where he came on in the second half.

Liam Scales of Celtic celebrates after scoring (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

James McCarthy

McCarthy was not part of the touring squad that went to Japan and it is expected that he will be moved on this summer. The Irishman joined in the summer of 2021 as Ange was underway with his rebuild and his signing was viewed as a good one given his vast experience in England. Unfortunately, it was clear that McCarthy was unable to cope with the speed that Ange wanted in his midfield.

The 32-year-old is a Celtic supporter but the move hasn’t worked out. Given that he has missed a lot of football through injuries, it would be in everyone’s best interests if he were to move on.

James McCarthy of Celtic FC reacts during the UEFA Europa League group G match between Real Betis and Celtic FC at Estadio Benito Villamarin on September 16, 2021 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

Albian Ajeti

The 26-year-old was another player that wasn’t present for the pre-season trip to Japan. The Swiss Internationalist striker spent a season on loan with SK Sturm Graz, where he scored four goals in twenty-three appearances, assisting once. Celtic have reportedly offered Ajeti the chance to leave the club this summer, despite having a year remaining on his deal. However, the ex-Basel and West Ham attacker is reluctant to accept these terms given the high wages that he is on. Much like the signing of Vasilis Barkas, Ajeti represents the transfer dealings of the summer of 2020, which were expensive but ultimately unsuccessful.

Ismaila Soro

Soro spent last season on loan with Portuguese side Arouca during the 2022/23 season, the 25-year-old is expected to depart Celtic this summer.

The player has made 43 appearances since joining in January 2020 with 19 of these coming last season. Ange Postecoglou clearly didn’t fancy the player, who 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 imminent arrival of Busan I-Park midfielder Kwon Hyeok-kyu.

The fact that the player did not go on pre-season with the team in Japan suggested that a deal was close to being completed with Greek side Panithanaikos reportedly keen on signing the player. Good luck to the player and hopefully Celtic can recoup some of the outlay that was paid to Israeli side Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv

Celtic v Dundee United – Ismaila Soro. Photo:Jane Barlow

Osaze Urhoghide

The 23-year-old was not part of the touring party that went to Japan and it was clear that he was not in the plans for Rodgers’ second spell as manager.

The player only made 21 senior appearances (before coming from Sheffield Wednesday) so he was always to be regarded as one for the future as opposed to an ‘oven ready’ player for Celtic. Jack Hendry left the club for Oostende in a loan deal and was able to resurrect his career so Urhoghide followed this path.

Since arriving at Celtic, Urhoghide has been limited in terms of game time but he did impress in the win over Real Betis in the Europa League, playing at right-back. He was strong in the tackle, comfortable enough of the ball and showed pace to defend as well as attack. However, he was shortly sent on loan to Oostende and it is expected that he is for sale this summer too.