Oh Hyeon-gyu has been named by David Friel as leading a major summer clear out at Celtic.
The Sun reporter is fairly close to matters at Celtic Park as demonstrated in February 2021 when he got word of Neil Lennon’s resignation 12 hours ahead of the Stock Market announcement.
Only a very small number of people were involved in that decision which came after a defeat away to Ross County.
After three disastrous transfer conducted by Mark Lawwell there is a massive surplus of players on the Celtic payroll even though Brendan Rodgers finished the season operating with a trusted core of 15 players.
Statistically Oh has a decent record at Celtic, last season he scored five times in the SPFL from three starts and 17 substitute appearances.
The signing of Adam Idah on loan from Norwich City effectively sidelined the South Korean striker, unlike others there is likely to be some interest and offers to take him from Celtic.
Late on Wednesday The Sun reported:
OH HYEON-GYU is set to lead a major Celtic summer clear-out.
Boss Brendan Rodgers is looking to reshape his squad for a Champions League tilt and the £2.5million South Korean barely featured in the second half of the Hoops’ Double-winning campaign.
Later on Friel adds:
Parkhead chiefs are expected to consider offers for 23-year-old Oh and several other fringe men this summer.
Swedish defender Gustaf Lagerbielke, who saw a January move to Italian side Lecce blocked due to an injury crisis, is expected to leave.
Japanese defender Yuki Kobayashi, third-choice keeper Benji Siegrist and Sead Haksabanovic are three other fringe men expected to move on.
Being expected to move on and leaving Celtic are two very different things, Kobayashi isn’t yet halfway through a five year contract but preferred to take a year out of football at Celtic than go out on loan with HJK Helsinki offering the chance of first team football. Over the last few windows most arrivals have signed four or five year contracts.
Marco Tilio and Kwon Hyeok-kyu went out on loan in January, the Australian is at Melbourne City for a year with St Mirren reported to be keen on taking Kwon back on loan.
After getting his reputation doubted last summer by endorsing Lawwell’s signings Rodgers is expected to play the lead role in recruitment this summer.
South American expert Mark Cooper has recently taken up a full time job in Recruitment but there has been no announcement from the club about a replacement for Lawwell Mini or a restructuring of Recruitment.
Signing a first team goalkeeper and resolving the situation with Idah will be the priorities but there is an expectation among supporters that at least four non-project signings are made with the possibility of 10 or more leaving the club.
No doubt Friel and one or two select others will be among those breaking the news of arrivals and departures over the next three months.
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