Celtic ready to let three first-team players leave in January

Celtic seem to have a bit of momentum on their side after the win over Feyenoord in the Champions League. Of course, they need to build upon that and their next game is against Hearts in the Premiership, a very important contest in more ways than one. But no matter how the rest of December goes, the club must make sure that they have a fantastic January transfer window.

It is very clear that Celtic need to make some quality signings next month, who will hopefully walk into the starting XI. But on the other hand, it might be equally important to part ways with some players in order to keep the first-team squad size manageable.

Centre-back is one area where they have a lot of options right now and many are not getting game time, with Cameron Carter-Vickers and Liam Scales establishing themselves as the starting duo in the heart of defence. As a result, a few centre-backs could head for the exit door.

It was just last summer that Celtic signed Gustaf Lagerbielke for a transfer fee believed to be around £3 million. Despite his heroics against Feyenoord, it looks like they are open to seeing him depart Parkhead in January and a few others could join him out the exit door.

Celtic ready to let three first-team players leave in January

As reported by Daily Mail (via Glasgow Live), Lagerbielke could join Yuki Kobayashi in exiting Celtic when the January window opens. Nat Phillips is also expected to return to Liverpool after his loan deal ends next month.

If all three of them did exit next month, it would leave Celtic with three options at centre-back. They are Carter-Vickers, Scales, Stephen Welsh and Maik Nawrocki.

Tomoki Iwata is also someone who can play in the heart of defence and did so to great success in the J-League. Thus, that might be a good set for centre-backs for Rodgers to rotate.