Chris Sutton has said that Odsonne Edouard and Kristoffer Ajer look ‘destined’ to leave Celtic in the upcoming transfer window and has ruled out three of the club’s loans being made permanent.
Sutton was writing in his Record Sport column after the Hoops were beaten 2-0 in the Scottish Cup fourth round on Sunday. They had won the competition for four consecutive years, but defeat condemns them to a first trophyless season for more than a decade.
Celtic’s hand may be forced in case of Edouard and Ajer
Edouard, who is out of contract next summer and has reportedly been the subject of a £15m approach from Leicester City, missed a penalty in the closing stages of the game (via Daily Mail).
Centre-back Ajer also has just over a year to run on his deal and has been named as a Newcastle United transfer target in a potential £8m deal (via Daily Mail).
“You have the likes of Odsonne Edouard and Kristoffer Ajer, who look destined to be on their way in the summer,” Sutton wrote in Record Sport.
“[Edouard] must have something lined up already because if you were a scout watching him yesterday, you’re certainly not putting him forward for a top club in Europe.”
Laxalt, Kenny and Elyounoussi struggle with departure in the offing
Sutton then turned his attention to the loanees, declaring that Diego Laxalt, Jonjoe Kenny and Mohamed Elyounoussi ‘will all be gone’ come the end of the season.
All three had a difficult evening on Sunday, with Laxalt beaten before Kenny turned the ball into his net for 2-0, while Elyounoussi was guilty of wasting a golden opportunity at the other end after Edouard squared the ball to him.
Prior reports had suggested that Celtic were keen on long-term deals for the AC Milan and Southampton stars in particular.
“You look at the loan players who will all be gone,” Sutton wrote.
“Diego Laxalt had a shocker but it was hardly a surprise. It was one thing getting skinned by Joe Aribo, but the lack of effort to get back in was telling.
“Jonjoe Kenny wasn’t much better on the other side and you’ve got Mohamed Elyounoussi who is also going and he wasn’t clinical enough where it mattered.”
Transfer Tavern verdict
It certainly looks as if a squad overhaul could be on the cards in Glasgow this summer, as Sutton is suggesting.
The sales of Edouard and Ajer could net Celtic £23m if the Daily Mail’s respective reports are to be believed, and while that is a healthy amount to reinvest, the Hoops have put themselves in an unenviable position by allowing the duo’s contracts to reach the final year.
In other news, could this be a goalkeeper target for Celtic?