BACK-UPS ARE BRACED FOR A JANUARY SALE
THE heat is very much on Celtic as they prepare to start their warmweather training camp in Dubai.
Their quest to land nine-in-a-row suffered a severe dent when Rangers won the last Old Firm derby of 2019 2-1 at Parkhead on December 29. It was the Ibrox side’s first victory at Celtic Park in nine years and it leaves them two points off the top of the Premiership with a game in hand. After watching his old side outplayed by Rangers, Sportsmail columnist Kris Commons hit out at the ‘passengers’ within the Celtic squad who aren’t contributing enough. A big month is now in store for Nicky Hammond, Celtic’s head of footballing operations, as he seeks two new strikers, a towering centre-half, a dynamic box-to-box midfielder and a left-back to help stave off the genuine title challenge from Rangers. As Sportsmail has reported, among his targets are Slovan Bratislava striker Andraz Sporar, Cruzeiro defender Fabricio Bruno and Moussa Sissako of Paris Saint-Germain. Here, we cast a critical eye over the players who could be moved out to free up cash for a January recruitment drive.
CRAIG GORDON: The ex-Scotland No 1 lost his place to Scott Bain last season and has fallen further down the pecking order since the loan arrival of Fraser Forster from Southampton. His contract expires in the summer and he has admitted he may have to move this month. A return to former club Hearts could be an option. EXIT RATING: 4/5
LUCA CONNELL: The teenage midfielder was signed from Bolton last summer on a four-year deal but he has played just twice for Celtic’s Under-20s this season. It’s likely he will be sent out on loan. EXIT RATING: 4/5
JACK HENDRY: The £1.5million signing from Dundee is a forgotten man and his only appearance this season was as a sub in the 5-0 Betfred Cup win over Partick Thistle in September. His deal runs to 2022 but there is interest from Blackpool, Lincoln and Hearts. EXIT RATING: 4/5
SCOTT SINCLAIR: Celtic triggered a clause to give Sinclair another year on his contract last summer but he has barely featured under Neil Lennon. A move to Preston in August collapsed but, with six months left on his deal, Celtic will be looking to cash in. EXIT RATING: 5/5
JONNY HAYES: The winger has deputised at left-back but has not been convincing. He is out of contract at the end of the season and is on the radar of Preston, Middlesbrough, Stoke City and Cardiff. EXIT RATING: 4/5
OLIVIER NTCHAM: Lille are targeting the midfielder as a replacement for Boubakary Soumare should the Real Madrid target leave in January. The unsettled Frenchman was disappointed
not to depart Celtic in the summer but is a key player under Lennon and is unlikely to be allowed to leave. EXIT RATING: 1/5 EBOUE KOUASSI: The £3m midfielder signed from Russian outfit Krasnodar in January 2017. But he suffered a bout of malaria, then injuries and failed to make the breakthrough. Celtic will be looking to get some of their outlay back. EXIT RATING: 5/5
VAKOUN ISSOUF BAYO: A £2m signing from Slovakian side Dunajska Streda last January, the striker has offered little. His time at Parkhead could be up. EXIT RATING: 3/5
LEWIS MORGAN: After failing to impress as an emergency striker in the Betfred Cup final win over Rangers, the winger has only featured in the Europa League dead rubber at Romanian side Cluj. A loan move to Hibs, managed by his former St Mirren and Sunderland boss Jack Ross, could be an option. EXIT RATING: 3/5
LEIGH GRIFFITHS: The 29-year-old striker has not started for Celtic since August
due to personal and fitness issues, and faces an uncertain future. He is contracted until 2022 but a move away may be required to kick-start his career. EXIT RATING: 3/5
MARIAN SHVED: The Ukrainian winger was signed last January for £1.75m from Karpaty Lviv only for Brendan Rodgers to say: ‘We’ve got about a million wingers, we don’t need another one.’ Shved has barely featured under Lennon and a loan or a permanent move could be in the pipeline. EXIT RATING: 4/5
DANIEL ARZANI: The Man City winger signed on a two-year loan but tore his anterior cruciate ligament on his debut in 2018 and has not featured under Lennon. He could head back to his parent club. EXIT RATING: 4/5
KUNDAI BENYU: The ex-Ipswich striker has played four times for Celtic since joining on a free in 2017. His contract expires in 2021 but the club will be looking for him to move on. EXIT RATING: 5/5