Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers will have cast his eye over several fringe players and promising B-team youngsters during pre-season.
The Northern Irishman is entering his sixth week in charge of the club since returning to Parkhead as Ange Postecoglou’s successor earlier this summer. During that time, he has assessed a number of players throughout a training camp in Portugal and several warm-up matches before the competitive action resumed at the weekend.
The former Liverpool and Leicester City boss will now have a clearer indication of those he would like to retain and those he believes would benefit from either a loan spell or a permanent exit.
Adam Montgomery, Yosuke Ideguchi, Liam Shaw and Johnny Kenny are currently out on temporary moves, but the futures of a number of other players who have either struggled to make their mark at first-team level or are regarded potential long-term stars could find out their next destination over the coming weeks.
Here, GlasgowWorld assesses 18 players whose future remains uncertain:
1. James McCarthy - Sell
Contract: 2025 - Hasn’t kicked a ball for the Hoops in over a year and is continuously left out of matchday squads. That theme hasn’t changed since Brendan Rodgers’ return to the club.
2. Liam Scales - Keep
Contract: 2025 - Aberdeen are keen to take the Irishman back to Pittodrie, but Carl Starfelt’s imminent departure could ensure he is given a chance after featuring regularly in pre-season.
3. Yuki Kobayashi - Loan
Contract: 2028 - Has struggled to adapt to the physicality of Scottish football since arriving in January and just like Yosuke Ideguchi, there’s been rumours of a potential return to Japan on loan.
4. Ismaila Soro - Sell
Contract: 2024 - The Ivorian spent last season in Portugal with FC Arouca and has been totally bombed out since returning to Parkhead. Clubs in Israeli, France and Greece are closely monitoring the midfielder’s situation.