This will be a huge summer for Celtic, not least because the Bhoys are on the hunt for a new manager, but because a mass exodus could be on the cards.
Parkhead better brace itself because there could be a rush to the exits in a few months time.
What’s the word?
Odsonne Edouard and Kristoffer Ajer have both been linked with moves to the Premier League in the last few weeks while Scott Brown is already a confirmed departure.
He’ll head to Aberdeen to take up a player-coach role once the season concludes.
However, an exit could also be on the cards for Ryan Christie. The Scot was linked with Arsenal and Leeds United during the winter but this week, a surprising contract revelation emerged.
It has become apparent that Christie’s contract is due to expire in January 2022, rather than next summer. Consequently, he is free to speak to other clubs in a few months time over joining in the winter.
This is a piece of news that’s left reporters rather shocked. Speaking on the Celtic Huddle Podcast, journalist Derek McGregor commented: “We were all quite stunned when it emerged over the weekend that in actual fact, his contract runs out in January.
“I’m amazed that Celtic certainly would allow a top player [or] most players to have a contract that would expire halfway through a season. Why that was allowed to happen? I don’t know if it was a condition of Ryan signing his last contract extension but regardless, it is what it is."
Time to go, Christie
This is news that should have Celtic supporters dancing from the rooftops in Glasgow.
Christie has been a handy player for the Hoops down the years, scoring 20 goals and registering 16 assists last season for instance. However, this term, the creative midfielder has been nothing short of shambolic.
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After a game against Livingston earlier this year, the Scotland international was crucified by supporters on social media. One described it as the worst performance they’d ever seen from a Hoops player while another sarcastically suggested a snowman would have done a better job.
It’s not hard to see why Christie has been slated so relentlessly. The 26-year-old has only netted seven times in 43 outings, beating the goalkeeper just once in his last 19 league outings.
It has been a disastrous season, one where he’s wasted opportunities on a regular basis.
In the draw with Ross County, he fired four shots off target and missed a chance from just a matter of yards out, blazing the ball high over the stand behind the goal.
His inability to hit the target has been a nasty habit all term, particularly with efforts from outside the box. Rather than finding a creative option with a pass, he opts for goal and traditionally misses altogether.
Losing him this summer, therefore, would certainly not be the end of the world. Christie has been abject and would be easy to replace.