Things are a little bit quiet on the transfer front for Celtic.
Pre-season is already underway, but you feel a lot of work still has to be done, in terms of incoming and outgoings for the team.
Yes, Celtic would rather be extra careful in the decisions that they make, rather than just rushing players in or out just to appease the crowd.
But it isn’t healthy for Brendan Rodgers’ preparations if he hasn’t got the squad that he wants for the new season.
It also needs to be noted that several players will also be arriving late after their commitments at Copa America and Euro 2024.
All of this doesn’t help matters for the club, but there is still a long way to go and the powers that be need to be trusted.
Rodgers delivered Celtic the Scottish Premiership title last season, even if there were several bumps in the road, questions over transfers and certain players just not delivering.
One of the players who was a huge talking point was winger Mikey Johnston and they were disappointed that he just wasn’t progressing as well as people would have liked.
The 25-year-old enjoyed a fruitful loan spell at Championship side West Brom from January onwards, scoring seven goals in 18 games as they were beaten in the play-off semi-finals.
Despite that positive loan spell, Jim Duffy thinks Rodgers won’t change his mind about the player, as he told Clyde 1.
Duffy added that it’s best if Johnston ‘moved on’ because he has had plenty of chances to prove himself, both in Rodgers’ first and second spell at the club.
Will Mikey Johnston leave Celtic?
“I don’t think it will,” says Duffy on Johnston’s performances at West Brom changing the mind of Brendan Rodgers.
“Mikey Johnston has had a number of games, but he has never managed to sustain and hold down a regular first-team place. He went to West Brom, settled in the first few months, scored some incredible goals down there and did very well.
“I think it’s time for Mikey Johnston to move on. Rather than going back and forward by going on loan. He has been on loan a few times now. He has to look at moving forward in his career. I think it’s time he moved on from Celtic, not because he isn’t a good player, he is a good player, but Celtic have got a host of wingers, they are likely to sign more forward players and Mikey Johnston has had two opportunities. He has been there for both of Brendan Rodgers’ time at the club. If he hasn’t established himself by now, then I think it would be too difficult for him to do that in the future.”
Take the money for Mikey Johnston
The player’s reputation is on a high, even if the first six months of the last campaign didn’t go to plan and many were questioning him.
You would be surprised if more English clubs aren’t interested in him, and given that’s where the money is, then Celtic need to listen to offers.
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Bring that dough in, let Johnston leave and Celtic should then use that money to buy Adam Idah.
He is one of many players the Bhoys need to bring in, as well as a first-choice goalkeeper after Joe Hart retired from football.
The post 'Move on': Jim Duffy thinks Celtic attacker will leave and Brendan Rodgers won't change his mind appeared first on HITC.
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