Ange Postecoglou yesterday washed his hands on the Celtic want-aways, insisting that he’s not interested in the players who don’t want to be at Celtic and suggesting that he will leave dealing with their departures to others at the club, presumably Dom McKay.
The Celtic boss was specifically asked about Kris Ajer who is set to complete his £13.5m move to Brentford after according to Bundesiga side Bayer Leverkusen giving his word that he’d be joining them. So much for being unprofessional, moving goalposts etc Kris. What’s Norwegian for greenhouses and throwing stones?
Asked about Ajer’s situation after the 1-0 defeat to Preston North End courtesy of a bizarre penalty call from Kevin Clancy, the Celtic manager gave his telling response.
“I’m not thinking about that stuff. The guys who are going to leave will leave, that’s not my department. I’m concentrating on what’s in front of me.
“He wasn’t involved today. I’m concentrating on the ones who are involved. I can’t afford to waste time on anyone other than the ones who are here and committed to being here,” the Celtic manager told the media post-match, as reported by Daily Record.
While we know that Ajer is set to leave the more interesting take-away from these remarks from the Celtic manager is in looking at the squad on a wider basis. If Ange is concentrating only on the ones who are involved then yesterday that includes both Odsonne Edouard and Boli Bolingoli – both of whom were expected to be leaving Celtic this summer.
Joining Ajer on the not involved list yesterday were Ryan Christie, Nir Bitton, Oliver Ntcham and of course Leigh Griffiths, who has been linked this morning with a loan move to Sunderland. Bitton according to Chris Sutton on Premier Sports (we watched their output rather than on the Pass to Paradise) may have a back injury. The Israeli had been considering a return to his homeland earlier in the year but apparently is happy working under Postecoglou, and wants to remain at Celtic, so we can score him off the list.
Christie, Ntcham and of course Ajer are all still likely to leave , even though in Ntcham’s case he has indicated that he’s committed to Celtic this season. Not buying that Olivier, sorry.
But Postecoglou might just get something out of Bolingoli – a £3m signing from Rapid Vienna – this season.
And maybe, just maybe yesterday’s comment from the manager, could indicate that Odsonne Edouard might be sticking around. Dom McKay might even be looking at a contract extension that could interest the French talisman whose planned move to Leicester City failed to materialise after the clubs failed to reach an agreement on price.
Get shot if them all. Didn’t try a jot last season.
Ntcham has said he is staying at Celtic this year ?, of course he is considering he cannot even get a club on a free if reports were accurate. Wish big Kris all the best, the sooner we get rid of Eddie an Christie the better.