The Celtic fans know that for Brendan Rodgers to add quality this summer there are others that will need to leave the club.
Rodgers has already stated this season that the squad is too big and it needs to be trimmed accordingly. The Hoops gaffer started the ball rolling in January by allowing David Turnbull to leave and allowing fringe players like Hyeokkyu Kwon and Marco Tilio to go out on loan.
Undoubtedly there will be more departures in the summer as Gustaf Lagerbielke looks out of the picture and, albeit right now through injury, even Maik Nawrocki has struggled to get game time after his £4.3m move from Legia Warsaw.
However, there are other players out on loan who are trying to either fight for the manager’s attention for next season or looking to earn their next move.
And Andy Walker believes that Mikey Johnston is set do to the latter after impressing on-loan down at West Brom.
Mikey Johnston will leave Celtic for West Brom
The former Celtic striker says he’s been really impressed with Mikey Johnston since his January loan move and he also thinks that the pressure of moving away from the Parkhead club has rejuvenated the Republic of Ireland winger.
Walker said [The Go Radio Football Show], “You see what’s happened with Mikey Johnston. He was always under a bit of pressure, but he’s been given a new lease of life.
“He’s down at West Brom. He’s tearing it up and everyone’s loving him the way he’s playing for West Brom.
“He’s got ability. I think he always had a good ability. I always remember that chance he had in the cup final against Rangers when he was one-on-one and had that gone in it might have changed people’s perception of him by getting such a big goal.
“But I like his ability. I like the fact that he’s always prepared to take players on. He’s the type of player that will always take a risk.
“And I think he’ll probably end up staying at West Brom. It looks as though it’s a great move for him.”
The positive aspect is that with Johnston doing so well, the price Celtic can command will improve and with him being under contract until 2026, this will only strengthen the club’s negotiating position.
Like Walker says, Johnston is clearly a talented player but he does seem to struggle under the weight of the Celtic jersey.
I think most people would agree that a summer move is best for both the player and Celtic.