Celtic Must Sell Maeda, Bernardo and Yang to Fund New Manager’s Rebuild

Celtic are working hard behind the scenes to appoint their next permanent manager after Brendan Rodgers’ exit – and the new man will have an eye on January.

That will represent the first chance to put his stamp on the squad with his own signings and while the winter window is notoriously labelled as tough to get deals over the line, it is one that will be viewed with importance for the Scottish champions.

Maeda, Bernardo and Yang Should be Offloaded in January

As such, in order to boost his coffers to the maximum, the new boss could give the green light to departures for Daizen Maeda, linked with an exit after failing to get his move in the summer, £2m winger Yang, who also watched a move out of Glasgow collapse, and midfielder Paulo Bernardo, who is a player the fans like, but has hardly had a sniff of action.

The summer window plans didn’t go as planned and that left Hoops fans bemused and angry after failure to reach the Champions League after defeat to Kairat Almatay in the play-off round of qualifying, while it is a current catch-up job to reel in leaders Hearts in the Premiership with seven points between the top two – albeit a game less played by the current league holders.

January could prove key in trying to get supporters back on side, giving the team a fresh look and boosting the ranks. Celtic will hope to have the Premier Sports Cup in the trophy cabinet by then, and then it will be full focus on the Premiership, Scottish Cup and a Europa League campaign – if they can get the needed results to get out the league phase.

Maeda expressed his desire for a new challenge in the summer and interest in the speedy £1.5m attacker is set to return. His exit would generate a healthy fee, and he’s shown at the top level his incredible work rate and desire to go forward and back, and just how lethal he can be when he is motoring.

Bernardo is a different situation entirely. The midfielder cost Celtic £3.5m after a successful loan from Benfica, but he’s not really established himself as a leading man in the heart of the champions’ XI.

Celtic’s riches are in the middle of the park with the likes of skipper Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate, Arne Engels and Luke McCowan meaning competition is fierce.

Bernardo has remained patient, but he’s only had two league appearances so far this season and six in total across all competitions.

Yang watched a move to Birmingham City break down in the last window, and he’s hardly had a kick of late.

That proposed move was said to be around £3m and that could be welcomed for a fringe player if targets can be brought in with the wide positions, one of the areas Celtic find themselves lightest in.

It is set to be a whirlwind start for whoever takes on the reigns full-time, with Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney currently in the dugout on an interim basis.

Not only will the new man have to contend with a hectic fixture schedule, but he will need to draw up January plans for incomings and outgoings in order to get what he wants and needs.

Maeda, Bernardo and Yang could viably be three names to make way to boost the transfer kitty even further as part of a new era in Glasgow’s east end.