MULUMBU HEADING FOR THE EXIT

CELTIC boss Brendan Rodgers expects Youssouf Mulumbu to leave the club this week.

Mulumbu, who turned 32 on Friday, signed for the Parkhead club earlier this season but has made just three appearances, his last outing coming as a substitute in a Europa League victory over RB Leipzig.

The former West Brom midfielder (below) penned a two-year deal in August but Rodgers admits he is unlikely to see much more game time going forward and has therefore allowed him to pursue fresh options.

A return to Kilmarnock, where he performed so impressively for Steve Clarke last season, could be a possibility but the Congolese international may instead move to France, where Bordeaux were close to sealing a deal 12 months ago.

Rodgers said: ‘I think the likelihood is that Youssouf will get a club, he is at that stage. Listen, he is a great guy. He was brought in as a cover player in the summer. Clearly with the midfield players that we had and the ones we wanted to bring in he was going to be important for us but, of course, his game time has been restricted with the form of guys like Callum McGregor and then the emergence of Ryan Christie. ‘It has been really difficult for him but he is a great man, he hasn’t been one ounce of problem since he has been here. He works hard but he needs to play. ‘There have been a few enquiries and we will wait and see where that goes. He will have options, for sure. ‘He has been super professional, a joy to have around, he hasn’t played as much as what he would have wanted but he knew what he was coming into — a Double Treble-winning team. ‘He understands it is his first opportunity to come to a huge club and it would have been difficult for him to turn that down. ‘He keeps himself really fit. Like most boys of that age, it is that continuous game time that they need. It is hard to switch off the engine and then go straight away again.’