How Celtic could have lined-up this season had they kept hold of their best players.
New Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers poses with the Celtic shirt after the press conference
Celtic go into the 2016/17 season looking to retain the Scottish Premiership title for a sixth successive time as well as make an impact in Europe once again following a few years of disappointment on the continent.
And now with the club on the verge of Champions League qualification after beating Hapoel Be’er Sheva 5-2 at Celtic Park on Wednesday, the Bhoys certainly seem to have a big season ahead of them.
With Old Firm rivals Rangers also to contend with in the league for the first time since the club’s liquidation in 2012 – the new season looks set to be a big one for those in Glasgow.
But while Celtic are well equipped to have yet another successful season, perhaps they aren’t as well equipped as they could have been.
Several of their former players have gone on to achieve success away from Parkhead which surely makes Hoops fans wonder – what if they had stayed?
Here’s how the team could have looked:
Fraser Forster (GK)
Southampton’s Fraser Forster
England international Fraser Forster played almost 200 games for Celtic before his £10m move to Premier League club Southampton in 2014.
Forster has since established himself as one of England’s top goalkeepers, making six appearances for his country and regularly impressing at club level.
This news will come as no surprise to Hoops fans who will have witnessed Forster’s extraordinary run of 13 consecutive clean sheets as well as stand-out Champions League performances against the likes of Barcelona and Ajax.
Unfortunately for Celtic fans, the 6ft 7in keeper opted for the Premier League over the Champions League but he certainly left his mark during his time at the club.
Mikael Lustig (RB)
Celtic’s Mikael Lustig celebrates scoring their first goal
The first of four players still on the books at Celtic, Mikael Lustig has won six trophies at the club since he joined from Rosenborg in 2012.
Injuries have hampered his impact somewhat but on his day, the 29-year-old is a sure starter in Brendan Rodgers’ side.
The Swedish full-back featured for his country at Euro 2016 this summer and will be looking to stay fit and make a big impact this season.
Virgil van Dijk (CB)
Celtic’s Virgil van Dijk (R) in action with Aberdeen’s Peter Pawlett
Another victim of a big money move to Southampton, Virgil van Dijk joined the Saints last summer and has gone on to impress in the Premier League as he was named the club’s 2015/16 player of the season.
The big Dutchman scored 15 goals in 115 appearances over his two years at Celtic and now looks to be one of the most formidable defenders in the English top flight.
The 25-year-old is a big miss and having him at the back would have surely boosted the Hoops’ chances against some of Europe’s tougher sides.
Kolo Toure (CB)
Celtic’s Kolo Toure warms up before the match
A centre-back partnership of van Dijk and Kolo Toure is one that most top-flight sides across Europe would be happy with.
Unfortunately it’s a partnership that is unlikely to ever come to fruition in green and white but Toure’s acquisition is still sure to bring a defensive boost to the side.
The 35-year-old has played at the top level for his entire career and despite his advancing years, still has a lot to offer the Scotland based club.
A member of Arsenal’s invincibles, few defenders are more experienced than the former Ivory Coast international and fans should be upbeat in regards to what he will bring to the side this season.
Emilio Izaguirre (LB)
Celtic’s Emilio Izaguirre (R) in action with Inverness Caledonian Thistle’s Lewis Horner
Yet another who is still at Celtic, Emilio Izaguirre’s future may be uncertain but his talent certainly isn’t as the Honduras international continues to impress after six years at the club.
The former SFWA Footballer and Players’ Player of the year, Izaguirre has been linked with a move away from Celtic Park with Werder Bremen and former club Motagua reportedly interested.
With his contract up at the end of the season, the 30-year-old could well move on but there is no doubt that he still has a lot to offer Brendan Rodgers’ side.
Aiden McGeady (RM)
Everton’s Aiden McGeady in action with MK Dons’ Dean Lewington
Somewhat of a blast from the past, Aiden McGeady left Celtic six years ago for Spartak Moscow before moving on to Everton in 2014.
His form has been on the wane the past few seasons but you still feel he would have a lot to offer if he were to return to the club where he started his professional career.
McGeady one of Celtic’s stand-out players during his time at the club, winning numerous individual awards before he was sold to Spartak Moscow for a record £9.5m in 2010.
The Irishman spent the second half of last season on loan at Championship side Sheffield Wednesday after being out-of-favour at Everton and could well move on this window.
Would Celtic fans welcome him back?
Victor Wanyama (CM)
Tottenham’s Victor Wanyama celebrates scoring their first goal
The third former Celtic player that was sold to Southampton, Victor Wanyama will forever be remembered by Hoops fans for his header in the famous Champions League group stage win over Barcelona in 2012.
The imposing midfielder has enjoyed relative success south of the border as well and recently scored the winner for new club Tottenham Hotspur in his home debut against Crystal Palace.
The only player on this list guaranteed to be playing Champions League football this season, Wanyama has arguably taken his career to the next level following his departure from Celtic three years ago.
Joe Ledley (CM)
Wales’ Joe Ledley and Gareth Bale
Crystal Palace’s Joe Ledley impressed as Wales made the Euro 2016 semi-finals in France this summer.
The former Celtic man has since become a popular figure at Selhurst Park with his physicality and work-rate making him a useful player for any side.
Alongside Wanyama in the heart of a powerful midfield, Ledley could have brought some added steel in the middle for the Hoops.
Arguably on a similar sort of level to current Celtic midfielder Scott Brown, the bearded Welshman’s inclusion goes to show just how strong their midfield could have been.
Scott Sinclair (LM)
Celtic’s Scott Sinclair in action with Hapoel Be’er-Sheva’s Ben Bitton
New recruit Scott Sinclair has made an immediate impact following his arrival from relegated Aston Villa earlier in the month.
With three goals in four matches including a debut winner against Hearts, Sinclair has been in fine form since arriving at Celtic Park.
The 27-year-old winger’s career had been on the decline since he left Swansea for Manchester City in 2012 but now looks set to reignite his career under former Swans manager Brendan Rodgers.
Gary Hooper (ST)
Gary Hooper celebrates after scoring the second goal for Sheffield Wednesday
‘Super Hooper’ was a goalscoring machine during his three seasons in Glasgow with 82 goals in 138 appearances in all competitions before moving south to Premier League club Norwich in 2013.
Things didn’t quite workout for the English striker as the Canaries were relegated with Hooper scoring just six league goals – his lowest return since 2007.
But a drop to the Championship somewhat rejuvenated Hooper as he started to get amongst the goals once more as helped Norwich get back into the English top flight.
A move to Sheffield Wednesday following the promotion meant the 28-year-old continued scoring on a regular basis and would surely still be a big threat should he ever return to Scotland.
Leigh Griffiths (ST)
Celtic’s Leigh Griffiths (R) celebrates scoring their third goal
Scottish striker Leigh Griffiths bagged 40 goals last season as Celtic clinched another Scottish Premiership title.
Arguably Hooper’s goalscoring replacement, the 2015/16 Celtic Player of the Year has been in scintillating form since his arrival from Wolverhampton Wanderers and doesn’t look like slowing down any time soon with six goals already this season.
No British based player scored more goals than the Scotsman last term and he will now be looking to continue his goalscoring exploits in the Champions League.
Full XI (4-4-2): Forster; Lustig, van Dijk, Toure, Izaguirre; McGeady, Wanyama, Ledley, Sinclair; Hooper, Griffiths
Substitutes: Craig Gordon (GK), Beram Kayal (CM), Shaun Maloney (CAM), Ki Sung-yeung (CM), Scott Brown (CDM), Moussa Dembele (ST), Jason Denayer (CB)
What do you think of this squad? Are there any players missing, and should Celtic have tried to keep hold of them?
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