Celtic have clinched the Premiership title for the fourth consecutive time and will be going for their sixth treble in nine seasons when they take on Aberdeen at Hampden Park next month in the final of the Scottish Cup. Of course, after that, the aim will be to strengthen the squad further in the summer transfer window, especially with the Rangers on the verge of a takeover.
On the other hand, this kind of continued success means that some Celtic players might feel that it is time to leave and look for a new challenge. So, do not be surprised if there are some high-profile exits in the summer as well.
That is just how the transfer cycle works at Celtic. This season, we have seen both Matt O'Riley and Kyogo Furuhashi leave, but that has not stopped the Hoops from being successful.
Chris Sutton appears to believe that two more superstars could be gone this summer. They are Nicolas Kuhn, who has been nominated for PFA Scotland Player of the Year this time around, and Reo Hatate.
Chris Sutton tips two Celtic superstars to leave this summer
Sutton wrote in his column in the Daily Record regarding Kuhn and Hatate potentially leaving the club:
"Kuhn’s form dropped at the conclusion to the title win, but his contribution to get Celtic into position was exemplary.
The winger’s work attracted the attention of scouts and, with that in mind, bids could well arrive. In fact, I’d say it’s likely and Celtic may decide he is the one to make the transfer money this summer.
Reo Hatate is another who has played his part and it could be that, after three-and-a-half seasons in Glasgow, his time has come to move on, just as was the case with Kyogo Furuhashi who had been there for the same length of time."
It remains to be seen what the future holds for these players. Kuhn was heavily linked with an exit in January, with clubs like Newcastle United, Everton, Eintracht Frankfurt and more rumoured to be interested in the German winger. But following his underwhelming run of form in recent times, will there be a similar level of interest this summer?
Hatate has been linked with a Celtic exit on quite a few occasions during his three-and-a-half seasons at Parkhead. But there is very much a possibility that he might feel that the time has come for him to part ways and take on a new challenge. But then again, troubles faced by Kyogo after leaving might affect that decision, especially with the World Cup just a year away. Will the midfielder take a risk at this point or prefer to wait?