Chris Sutton has slapped a NOT FOR SALE sign on six Celtic's key stars - even more so with Ange Postecoglou now at Tottenham.
It's set to be a summer of change in the dugout for the Hoops after the 57-year-old accepted a big chance to move south of the border to become Antonio Conte's permanent successor in North London. A big task awaits the former Parkhead gaffer with the demands on a return to fighting for the top four on his shoulders after a poor eighth place finish.
During his time in Scotland he won five trophies out of six including signing off on the ultimate high by bagging a Treble with a Scottish Cup win over Inverness at Hampden. It wasn't only his dealings on the pitch with his transfers off it proving a real hit. The likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, Jota, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Reo Hatate, Liel Abada, Daizen Maeda and Matt O'Riley plus others all arrived under his watch and have been big successes.
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But as the Hoops begin the search for a new manager, club legend Sutton has told the board to ensure the man coming in has a proper crack at it and they must NOT allow key players to follow Postecoglou to the riches of the English Premier League.
He wrote in his Daily Record column: "Kyogo Furuhashi. Not for sale. Cameron Carter Vickers. Not for sale. Reo Hatate. Not for sale. Goes without saying, Callum McGregor. Not for sale.
"I’d actually also chuck the likes of Jota and Carl Starfelt into that mix. Ange Postecoglou might just have walked out the door of Celtic Park. But the club hierarchy has to give their new manager a proper crack at it. Put simply, that means ensuring key players don’t follow him.
"My view before Postecoglou left was that, if he was going to try and make progress in the Champions League, those influential individuals had to stay.
"Now the Aussie has disappeared off to Tottenham, it is even more important the crown jewels within the dressing room are placed under lock and key. Postecoglou worked really hard to build the squad and make it strong.
"What you most definitely do not want to be doing before a new managerial appointment is to deplete it. You can’t be whipping the rug away before the guy’s even stepped onto the carpet.
"Taking this job is going to be challenging enough. The new man needs the best available tools to work with.
"It doesn’t need me to tell you that Kyogo is the club’s best striker and Carter-Vickers is their best defender. Hatate was my Player of the Year last season and McGregor is, well, just Callum McGregor.
"The captain’s position is not up for debate. He’s got a big job to do, he’s steeped in the club and I’m not sure interest from outside of the club would be of any interest to him in any case were it to arrive.
"However, that stance might not necessarily be the case for the others, most of whom have been taken into Celtic by the man who has now gone."
He continued: "Most of these main Celtic stars were signed by Postecogou. Jota, for example, has expressed his gratitude at being given the chance. Hatate and Matt O’Riley got their breaks through him. Carter-Vickers and Starfelt.
"Players are used to change. At least they would have the familiar faces of John Kennedy and Gavin Strachan to return to in pre-season, but if Postecoglou gets his hands on that pair as well, it adds another layer of upheaval.
"Before most of these issues are decided, Celtic have to get things right in terms of the manager appointment first and foremost and I’m sure they will. They have time, but not an eternity. You’d want a new guy in there for the start of pre-season
"The last thing any new manager needs is the best of the bunch heading out. That’s the likes of Kyogo, Carter-Vickers, Hatate.
"Before anyone puts cones out for day one of pre-season training, they should be putting Not for Sale signs around the necks of those boys."
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