“Olivier Ntcham’s talent has not always been matched by the desired levels of commitment during his four years at Celtic. He still has a year on his deal”
With less than three weeks to go before his tenure as Celtic manager starts in earnest, time is not on Ange Postecoglou’s side as he assesses the players he has inherited.
While some new arrivals are expected before the first leg of the Champions League second qualifying round tie against Midtjylland at Celtic Park on July 20, Postecoglou must largely rely on a core of incumbent personnel initially.
Some are tried and trusted, including Callum Mcgregor and winger James Forrest, whose experience at European level will be invaluable for Postecoglou as he tries to hit the ground running.
The one-year contract extension agreed with Leigh Griffiths also provides a proven striking talent, albeit one whose fitness levels and conditioning have been questioned.
But the 55-year-old Australian coach has decisions to make over a raft of other players who are under contract, but whose futures at the club remain uncertain.
Albian Ajeti: The Swiss international striker arrived to considerable fanfare and at a significant cost when Celtic signed him from West Ham United on a four-year deal for £5 million last summer, but, despite scoring a winner on his debut against Dundee United, Ajeti was unable to sustain that momentum during a season when he too often appeared to be lacking physical durability.
The 24-year-old was among those under the watchful eye of Postecoglou in pre-season training this week and will have the opportunity to stake his claim for more regular involvement when Celtic kick off their schedule of friendly fixtures against Sheffield Wednesday next Wednesday.
Vasilis Barkas: The Greek international goalkeeper was a high profile recruit 12 months ago, but has toiled to vindicate the £4.5m fee Celtic paid to AEK Athens.
The 27-year-old was believed to have the pedigree and ability to fill the void left by the failure to complete a permanent deal for Fraser Forster and the decision to allow Craig Gordon to depart, but Barkas could not meet those standards last season and by October had lost his place in the first team to Scott Bain. Perhaps the Greek-born Postecoglou can inspire Barkas to find the form required to become Celtic’s number one in the new campaign.
Olivier Ntcham: The French midfielder’s talent has not always been matched by the desired levels of commitment during his four years at Celtic.
After an unsuccessful loan spell with Marseille in the second half of last season, it looked as if Ntcham, pictured inset, had found the exit in the shape of a move to AEK Athens this summer.
But with a year still remaining on his contract, negotiations over a fee have cast doubt on that move.
It remains to be seen if Postecoglou
will seek to keep the 25-year-old on board. Vakoun Bayo: The Ivory Coast international striker spent last season on loan at Toulouse, scoring 10 goals in 31 appearances for the French club who narrowly missed out on promotion to the top flight when they lost on away goals to Nantes in the play-off final.
Toulouse are keen to extend Bayo’s stay, but are unable to meet any transfer fee demand from Celtic for a player with a year left on his contract.
Bayo has managed just two goals in 19 games for Celtic since his £1.8m move from Slovakian club Dunajska Streda in January 2019.
Maryan Shved: The Ukrainian international winger still has two years remaining on his Celtic contract, having signed from Karpaty Lviv in his homeland in January 2019 for about £1.5 min a deal greeted with a degree of in difference at the time by then-manager Brendan Rodgers.
Shved has made just three substitute appearances for Celtic, scoring on his debut in a Champions League qualifier against Nomme Kalju in 2019.
Last season, the 24-year-old was loaned out to Mechelen, scoring four goals in 22 appearances for the Belgian side who are hopeful of securing his services again for the new campaign.
Shved had been tipped by Ukraine head coach Andriy Shevchenko to become a major star for his country, but now needs clarity on his club future before he can revive his international career.
Boli Bolingoli: Could there possibly be any way back at Celtic for the Belgian left-back whose mind less breach of c ovid protocols last August was one of the first of many calamities in a miserable season for the deposed champions?
The 26-year-old, signed from Rapid Vienna for £3 min summer 2019, is certainly regarded as persona non grata by many of the club’s fans.
He was loaned to Turkish club Basaksehir for the remainder of last season, but managed just 12 appearances for the Isanbul outfit who have confirmed they will not be pursuing a permanent deal.
Another Turkish side, Altay Izmir, have expressed interest in Bolingoli, who has two years left on his Celtic contract.
Unless Postecoglou decides he wants to give Bolingoli a clean slate in Glasgow, it is unlikely Celtic would be too difficult to deal with.