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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Pirie

7 Celtic fringe men facing uncertain futures as Ange Postecoglou gets Champions League ready

With Celtic edging closer to the Scottish Premiership title attention is quickly turning to the Champions League pot next season.

The team who lifts the title this season is set to go straight into the group stage and rub shoulders with Europe's elite.

Having been held by Rangers at Celtic Park on Sunday, some fans have already urged the board to splash the cash to add further quality for next season.

After struggling in European competition this season, Ange Postecoglou will be looking to strengthen the squad to a standard that can rub shoulders with some of the world's top clubs.

But to add before the Champions League, there will be likely some players who need to leave Celtic Park.

Record Sport looks at the names that could be heading out of the club this summer.

James McCarthy

Former Crystal Palace and Everton midfielder James McCarthy signed a four-year contract with Celtic last summer despite an injury hampered spell south of the border.

(Getty Images)

Since the move to his boyhood heroes, most of the 31-year-old's appearances have come off the bench, with his last start coming in the Boxing Day win over St Johnstone.

He's only made two appearances since February.

It's move that hasn't worked out for anyone so far, and the club could look to move the midfielder on in the summer to freshen up their ranks.

Ismaila Soro

A move to Dutch side Fortuna Sittard collapsed in the final hours of the window for Soro, and since then he has made just one appearance for the club.

The 23-year-old hasn't even been named on the bench since a a two-minute cameo during the 3-0 win over Rangers on February 2.

(SNS Group)

With so much depth in the Celtic midfield already and more potentially on the way in the summer, Soro is unlikely to be a part of the Champions League push next term.

Liam Shaw

Signed on a pre-contract from Sheffield Wednesday before Postecoglou's Parkhead arrival, Shaw was mainly limited to Colt team appearances before his loan move to Motherwell.

Shaw has been sent out by Celtic to get game-time (Daily Record)

Fellow Owls' recruit Osaze Urhoghide is out on loan at Oostende with an option to permanently move to the Belgian side, and Shaw could be following a similar path.

While currently on loan at Motherwell, he has made just six appearances since penning a loan deal at Fir Park in January. Another loan exit could be key for the 21-year-old's development.

Vasilis Barkas

The 27-year-old has barely had a look-in under during the Postecoglou era making just two first-team appearances so far this season.

One of those came in the crucial Champions League playoff defeat to Midtjylland, where the Greek stopper was at fault again for a costly goal.

Vasilis Barkas looks to be on the way out of Celtic (SNS Group)

With Joe Hart and Scott Bain clearly about Barkas in the pecking order, it's time for the club to cut their losses with the £4.5million signing and free up cash to strengthen the squad for their European exploits.

Albian Ajeti

The £5million spent to snap up Ajeti from West Ham in the summer seems like a distant memory in the summer of 2020.

The Swiss striker capped off a window of transfer missteps that teed up the nightmare season that left Postecoglou picking up the pieces this term.

(Getty Images)

Despite being at full fitness, Ajeti is rarely even named in a matchday squad and hasn't made a first-team appearance since the final Europa League group stage game with Real Betis.

If Celtic hope to add more depth to their options up front, Ajeti will make way this summer.

Boli Bolingoli

Bolingoli's loan to FC Ufa in Russia was over before it had even begun due to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

He is currently training away from Lennoxtown and has shared clips to social media training alone in his native Belgium.

With just two appearance under Postecoglou, the full-back appears to have run out of chances at Parkhead and is another wage the club will look to offload permanently.

Mikey Johnston

Johnston signed a five-year contract with the Hoops in December 2019 as he broke into the Celtic first-team.

(SNS Group)

The forward looked to have a bright future as Celtic Park at the time, but has been plagued by injuries in the seasons that have followed.

The 23-year-old doesn't appear to be at the forefront of Postecoglou's thoughts, with his last Premiership start coming in the win over St Mirren back in December.

A move away from Glasgow's east end, at least on a loan deal, could be best for all parties to give the winger a chance to find form and fitness again.

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