Celtic could sell Luke McCowan during the January window, according to a report.
McCowan has been forzen out over recent weeks and months after struggling with what was likely one of the worst performances of his career during the second leg of the Champions League playoff with LASK.
McCowan went through a difficult time after that game, with some of the criticism crossing the line due to fan anger over dropping out of the competition having once held a four-point lead in the tie.
The 28-year-old has made just eight appearances across all competitions this season, but after four straight league games of being left out of the squad, he did make it off the bench for six minutes against Falkirk.
For all intensive purposes, it seems as though McCowan's role in the squad is to provide emergency back-up, with Martin O'Neill seemingly having no plans to give him regular football this season.
And so it should come as no surprise that Football Insider are reporting that Celtic are willing to offload McCowan during the January transfer window, as long as they can find a replacement.
We wrote only a couple of weeks ago that McCowan was clearly the most likely player to be allowed to leave in the winter window, given his small role in the squad and the difficult time he has had with fans.
The midfielder has a contract until 2028 as things stand, but it's clear it would benefit him and the club to go their seperate ways. The Bhoys are also likely to strengthen in the midfield during the Januay window, although their spending could be impacted by a possible Europa League league phase exit.
Torino's Gvidas Gineitis continues to be linked with a move to Parkhead, but he has had a reduced role amid disappointing form this season, which he has admitted to himself.
It remains to be seen whether Celtic remain interested, but there may be a greater chance of them getting the price they wanted late in the summer window when negotiations ultimately broke down.
The Bhoys simply haven't been good enough in midfield, and they have been repeatedly exposed in the middle during European games with tougher opponents. A signing is clearly needed there, but what Celtic need and what they actually address during transfer windows are typically very different things.
If they can secure a starting midfielder and offload McCowan, who has struggled to meet even the current standard, it would be an obvious upgrade.
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