Brendan Rodgers will be breaking some bad news to various players he has inherited in his Celtic squad after taking over from Ange Postecoglou last month. Many will be players who pre-dated the arrival of the Australian in May 2021 having been signed by Neil Lennon.
With Rodgers having funds at his disposal to build Celtic towards a competent Champions League side, it’s imperative that the players who are not going to be in his plans for the new season are moved on and that process is now underway and its pace with intensify over the next few weeks as the irishman gets ready for the season kicking off against Ross County at Celtic Park on Flag Day in a fortnight’s time.
Speaking to the media ahead of the trip to Japan for the two match pre-season tour, Rodgers admitted that he’ll be attending to this difficult task in conveying the bad news to players that their time at Celtic is up.
“We will be looking to trim the squad. That will be the natural process,” Brendan said, as reported by Scottish Sun.
“I’ve already spoken to a couple of players and I’m sure I will do over the course of pre-season.
“You have to be honest with players. Even if it’s a tough conversation, it’s the most humane way and the most direct way to tell them the plan. If that’s to move on and get playing football, then that’s what they have to do.
“Those conversations have already started but it will continue over the next few weeks.”
Both goalkeepers Scott Bain and Ben Siegrist could be on Brendan’s list, as could defenders Liam Scales, Osage Urhoghide and maybe Stephen Welsh.
In the middle of the park Ismaila Soro can count his time at Celtic as being over and there must be a question mark over David Turnbull too. James McCarthy will surely be told to find another club as will Liam Shaw while up front Mikey Johnston – injured yet again – might hang on in there for on last chance to make it at Celtic. Albian Ajeti will surely also be told he’s not in the manager’s plans.
