Ajeti and Soro exits leave just two pressing Celtic contract issues

Albian Ajeti in Celtic 'no regrets' admission as outcast reflects on what went wrong at Parkhead - Daily Record

Albian Ajeti and Ismaila Soro have now both departed Celtic after difficult spells in Scotland.

The pair both arrived in 2020 — Soro in January, Ajeti in August — and failed to live up to some decent early moments.

In the years since, they have been away from Celtic on loan before finally securing their permanent futures in the closing days of this summer’s window.

Soro has joined Israeli side Beitar Jerusalem while Ajeti’s move to Turkish outfit Gaziantep was confirmed on Monday evening. (Gaziantep)

The pair were both due to be out of contract next summer, so that’s a couple of good deals concluded by the club.

We do, however, still have a couple of first-team contract issues to sort out one way or another.

Ismaila Soro becomes Celtic outcast as midfielder tipped to succeed Scott Brown slips into Parkhead obscurity - Daily Record

As per Transfer Markt, we actually have three first-team players out of contract next summer. That doesn’t include Paulo Bernardo who joined on a season-long loan from Benfica on Friday.

Scott Bain was reported to have agreed a new three-year contract back in May. That was never officially announced by the club. Regardless, he is viewed more as a squad player than a first-team star.

Fellow goalkeeper Joe Hart is one who is definitely out of contract at the end of this season, as is David Turnbull.

Hart has been an ever-present so far this season under Brendan Rodgers while Turnbull has also featured in every match. While both have come in for criticism in recent times, they are players who the manager likes and trusts.

In Hart’s case, it does seem likely that this will be his final season at Celtic. He has been a good signing and still has something to offer, but three years may be the perfect duration of time for him in Scotland.

Brendan Rodgers told statement Celtic transfer will break board's 'thin skinned' approach as Jota exit the catalyst for better - Daily Record

Come the end of the season the club could look for a younger option — perhaps someone like Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher who was linked on Saturday.

Turnbull, meanwhile, is playing for his future with Rodgers recently advising that consistency is what is required now. The jury is still very much out on the former Motherwell man.

He can talk to other clubs in a matter of months. If he is forced out of Rodgers’ plans then that may be an option he takes up.

Given that he’s 24, and has talent, it would be a shame for us to lose him for nothing. But not every transfer can work out.