Celtic midfielder Olivier Ntcham is nearing a permanent Parkhead exit after agreeing personal terms with Greek side AEK Athens, according to the Daily Record.
The Lowdown: Celtic face losing key players ahead of 2021/22
As the Celts get their ducks in a row ahead of 2021/22, it now seems that the Frenchman will become a fall guy as their summer rebuild continues to take shape.
Celtic have been linked with moves for the likes of Mathew Ryan and Kaoru Matoma in recent times.
Despite this, prospective departures seem to be taking centre-stage amongst the Celtic squad. Odsonne Edouard has been linked with a move to Leicester City [Sky Sports], whilst Kristoffer Ajer is being targeted by Bayer Leverkusen, Newcastle United and Norwich City [Glasgow Times].
However, it looks as though Ntcham could be the first casualty of the Celtic reconstruction after spending four years in Glasgow [BBC].
The Latest: Ntcham agrees personal terms with AEK Athens
As per reports, the 25-year-old is said to have agreed personal terms with the Greek side [Daily Record].
So far, it is unclear whether any such agreement has been reached between the two clubs. Nevertheless, Celtic are said to be considering waiving the final year of the midfielder’s contract which is due to expire in May 2022 [Transfermarkt].
Ntcham endured an unsuccessful loan spell at Marseille in the second half of 2020/21, making just four Ligue 1 outings [Transfermarkt].
The Verdict: Right time for Celtic and Ntcham to part ways
All things considered, it may be the correct decision for Celtic and the former Manchester City youth to part ways this summer.
Signing from the Citizens in 2018 [BBC], the roaming playmaker made 147 appearances for the Hoops; recording 24 goals and 13 assists [Transfermarkt]. Contributing effectively to the Celtic set-up, he has aided the Scottish giants to eight trophies across his Parkhead stay [BeSoccer].
After he fell out of favour under Neil Lennon, the Hoops may be best suited to maximising any potential revenue they can obtain for his signature as it looks like the player had no intention of staying in Glasgow, so a move is the best option for all parties.
In other news, Celtic have been linked with a move for an international goalkeeper.