Jackie McNamara has named three Celtic first teamer he believes may have to leave the club this summer.
The former Hoops favourite has suggested that due to a wealth of options in the centre of the park, Nir Bitton, Olivier Ntcham, and Tom Rogic could all be shown the exit door during the transfer window.
Speaking to Football Insider, he said: “I think we’re quite strong in there [the midfield] but there’s been reports they’ve got a few players in there that they might have to move on if they’re not going to feature.
“You’ve got Bitton in there, you’ve got Ntcham who’s been in and out this season, so obviously they need to make a decision on them. Bitton’s come back from injury, Ntcham’s sort of been in and out and you’ve got Rogic as well who’s been injured.
“Scott Allan’s away to Hibs on a free contract, so I imagine there will be players who come in to strengthen around that area.”
OPINION
This is bittersweet for the Hoops. On the one hand, losing three first team players is always going to sting a little, but on the other, having to ship them on because you are so well-stocked in one department cannot be a bad thing. Celtic are on the cusp of a huge transitional phase. Whether that is under Neil Lennon or another manager, you would expect a summer of upheaval ahead, and with Rangers beginning to flex a little bit of financial clout again, they will have to react with good quality recruitment themselves. The three players that McNamara names have all struggled this season, for various reasons, and it makes sense that they would be some of the first shown the exit. Of the trio, Tom Rogic is perhaps the one that you would fancy most to have a long term future at the club, but even then, it is far easier to imagine him plying his trade somewhere else in the relatively near future.