A week after Santa leaves his gifts, some serious action kicks off in the football world when the transfer window opens.

Brendan Rodgers will be keen to add to his squad, but in the background there are a number of 'legacy' issues still to be dealt with.

Given a blank canvas, the Bhoys boss would probably remove a dozen players from the payroll but there will be no Joey Barton style pay-offs coming out of the club's bank account.

Some gentle persuading will be required but with a couple of players out of contract at the end of the season moving on in January will be a little easier to take than a wage cut in August.

Players hold all the cards, but if you know that your days are numbered, accepting a contract elsewhere may appeal more than spending another couple of months on the periphery before searching for a new deal next summer having not kicked a ball all season.

There won't be any big fees coming in from the January sales but if some savings can be made on the wage bill and the first-team squad can be trimmed down everyone will benefit.

EFE AMBROSE

Ambrose has played in one Development League match since turning down a couple of offers to leave in August.

Any player is perfectly within their rights to stay put, contracts are two-way agreements, but equally a club isn't duty bound to provide a player with games.

At the age of 28 Ambrose is capable of picking up another couple of contracts on decent terms but if he sees out his Celtic deal he might find interest dropping when his contract expires in the summer.

LOGAN BAILLY

The only thing worse than being a second choice keeper is being third choice!

A pre-season injury denied him the chance to put pressure on Craig Gordon, and now that he has recovered he's also got Dorus de Vries in his path to a first-team place.

With his background, there is likely to be a Dutch or Belgian side looking for a 'keeper in January to whom he'll appeal, and getting back in action after 18 months as an understudy must be more attractive than being third choice with little chance of getting any games.

KRIS COMMONS

The former talisman is still without an appearance at any level this season and has been told that the first-team door is closed.

With his family very settled in Glasgow he has a big decision to make - does he up sticks for the 46-game Championship season in England or see his wages crash and take his pick from any club in Scotland. What would Hibs, Motherwell or Kilmarnock do to get Commons in their team?

No doubt these scenarios will have been fully discussed.

GARY MACKAY-STEVEN

Rodgers denied that GMS was on his way on loan to Ross County, but the omens don't look bright for his Celtic career relaunching anytime soon.

At 26-years-old there should still be plenty of ambitions for the former Dundee United man to achieve, with a move to the English Championship most likely.

Having paid a token fee to Dundee United in February 2015 for his signing Celtic won't be looking for much in the way of a transfer fee.

NADIR CIFTCI

He has the distinction of scoring the first goal of the Rodgers era, in pre-season against Celje of Slovenia, and also captained the team in a friendly against Inter Milan.

After that, it's all gone a bit quiet for the striker who is in his second year as a Celtic player.

Last season he moved on loan to Kayserispor of Turkey, and a similar type of deal may occur if there are no permanent offers around.