The Celtic one in one out transfer necessity to make…

The Celtic one in one out transfer necessity to make Champions League numbers work

With another Premiership title within touching distance, Celtic will soon be gearing up for another crack at the Champions League group stage.

Victory away to Hearts on Sunday will see Ange Postecoglou clinch a second successive Scottish crown and a return to Europe’s top table. This term saw them pit their wits against holders Real Madrid, RB Leipzig and Shakhtar Donetsk. Despite some competitive displays, the Hoops failed to register a victory and Postecoglou will be hoping they’ve learned from the experience and can give the fans more to shout about next season.

But they will have to be clever with their summer recruitment with Europe in mind. Celtic are permitted 17 players who weren't trained in Scotland within their squad for the competition. They currently have that number in their ranks just now, with more coming back from loan at the end of the current campaign, although none are likely to feature and will likely be moved on in the summer.

However, it could be a case of one in, one out when it comes to talent recruited from abroad. Postecoglou is yet to sign a single player from another Scottish club since he took the reins at Parkhead, having repeatedly returned to Japan to snap up stars he managed or came up against during a successful stint in the J League with Yokohama F Marinos.

Whilst he’s likely to return to the Far East during a summer shopping spree, perhaps looking closer to home will become necessary if he wants to include new faces in his pool for Europe. Otherwise, some established faces may have to sit out the European nights at Celtic Park.

Here’s how Celtic’s non-Scottish trained contingent looks heading into the transfer window. And if more come in who don’t meet the criteria, then there will be decisions to be made when the time comes to submit Euro squads.

Liel Abada has been attracting interest after reportedly turning down a new contract. Ajax are among his admirers and of the established first team stars who don’t fulfil the domestic quote for the Champions League, then his departure seems to be the one that makes sense financially and in terms of not weakening the side too much given his intermittent starts,

Goalkeepers (2)

Joe Hart

Benjamin Siegrist

Defenders (5)

Alistair Johnston

Cameron Carter-Vickers

Carl Starfelt

Yuki Kobayashi

Alexandro Bernabei

Midfielders (4)

Tomoki Iwata

Reo Hatate

Aaron Mooy

Matt O’Riley

Wingers (4)

Jota

Sead Haksabanovic

Daizen Maeda

Liel Abada

Strikers (2)

Kyogo

Hyeongyu Oh

Returning from loan

Liam Scales

Albian Ajeti

Ismaila Soro

Osaze Urhoghide

Liam Shaw

Vasilis Barkas

Johnny Kenny

In terms of domestically trained players, Celtic’s 25-man squad must have eight ‘homegrown’ players in it, who can either have come through the ranks with the Hoops or another Scottish club.

To meet Champions League quotas without promoting from the youth ranks, then new arrivals from the Scottish Premiership or those who cut their teeth in the SPFL will be required.

Stephen Welsh was linked with a move away in January and could find his gametime limited next season. James McCarthy has barely featured and is another prime target to be moved on.

Scott Bain finds himself behind Hart and Siegrist in the pecking order, but his domestic status could mean he’s retained for continental competition.