This article is part of Football FanCast's Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news...
Scott Sinclair could still leave Celtic before the end of the Scottish window, with a move to a European side not out of the question, according to Football Insider.
What's the story?
The winger has seen himself become ostracised under Neil Lennon, playing just 56 minutes of action so far this campaign. The 30-year-old was omitted from the League Cup squad that beat Dunfermline as well as playing no part in the defeat to Cluj, so he has reason to want to leave Parkhead.
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The wide-man had been linked with a move to England, but with their window shut, Sinclair has instructed his agent to find him a move abroad, per Football Insider.
Despite the Bhoys triggering a contract extension in May, the former Manchester City man is in the last year of his deal and the club look set to move him on for a fee rather than risk losing him for nothing next summer.
Celtic need Sinclair
It would be a poor time to sell the wide-man, with Lennon's options on the left-wing hardly pulling up trees. Mikey Johnston has done well, but seldom sees out the full 90 minutes for the Hoops. His back-ups have failed to light the touch paper of their Celtic careers this season too, with Marian Shved and Lewis Morgan having slow starts this campaign.
Keeping Sinclair would give Johnston the support he needs to flourish, while letting the 30-year-old step up for the underperforming duo of Shved and Morgan is no bad thing either.
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Despite seeing his game time hampered last season, the Englishman still posted impressive numbers. In his 55 games last term, he notched a decent 17 goals and set up a further six. Not bad for a back-up. Putting that into context, imagine the praise Shved or Morgan would receive if they reached a similar number this season.
And while it would hurt on the pitch, it might hurt off it even more. Shipping out Sinclair would only further irk fans after a nightmarish week. The fans are already irate at the club for the embarrassing Cluj defeat, so selling a fan favourite would show a club out-of-touch with its supporters, and only drive a greater wedge between the fans and upper management.
There's already been so much turmoil this summer, with Kieran Tierney just one of a whopping 13 players to leave, and adding Sinclair to that pile of outgoings with only further the instability while harming Lennon's attacking arsenal.
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