Chris Sutton has labelled four players he feels may not be ‘good enough’ for Celtic with Gustaf Lagerbielke, Marco Tilio, Yuki Kobayashi and Alexandro Bernabei all linked with January exits.
It doesn’t reflect particularly well on Brendan Rodgers’ recruitment that two of the players who arrived at Parkhead on his watch last summer – for a combined £4.5 million no less – could already be heading out the door, after just a few short months in Scotland.
Gustaf Lagerbielke, the Sweden international centre-half who arrived amid big expectations, reportedly has admirers in Italy. Marco Tilio, meanwhile, admitted in conversation with The West Australian that he has found life in Britain ‘tough’ amid talk of an early return Down Under.
Sutton also has serious concerns over Yuki Kobayashi and Alexandro Bernabei, two players who’s arrivals preceded that of Rodgers and represent rare misses in a sea of hits for Ange Postecoglou.
Celtic could be set for January overhaul
“The first question you ask with (the players linked with an exit are); ‘Why aren’t you playing? Why is your club letting you go? Aren’t you that good?’,” Sutton tells the Daily Record.
“Sure, there are exceptions. But, mainly, the ones hunting escape routes are doing it because they aren’t good enough to get into their own team. I give you Gustaf Lagerbielke, Marco Tillo, Yuki Kobayashi, et al.
“There are areas which are absolute priority. Greg Taylor is having to carry the entire load on his shoulders at left-back because Alexandro Bernabei isn’t good enough to replace him.”
‘Isn’t good enough’
Kobayashi could return to Japan, following in the footsteps of Yosuke Ideguchi. Like Lagerbielke, he has struggled to establish himself at centre-half with Cameron Carter-Vickers and Liam Scales two of the first names on Rodgers’ team sheet.
Argentina under 23 flyer Bernabei, meanwhile, has played only 71 minutes of Premiership football all season, and was also left out of Celtic’s Champions League roster.
HITC Football understands that, in terms of incomings, Celtic are closing in on a £3 million deal for Rapid Vienna winger Nicolas Kuhn. Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland is also a target.
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