By support

23rd Jan, 2017 | 10:51am

Five players that could leave Celtic before the January transfer deadline

COMMENT By Will Butcher

Brendan Rodgers desperately needs to trim his Celtic squad this month with a huge amount of first-team players currently available to him.

A whole host of Hoops stars have been ostracised this season by the former Liverpool boss, as he looks to keep everyone happy at Parkhead this season.

But with 11 players already on loan from the Hoops, here are five players that should be moved on before the end of the January transfer window by Rodgers.

Kris Commons

After being loaned to Hibernian in December on an emergency one-month spell, Commons must be shipped out to cut his hefty pay cheque from the Celtic wage bill.

The Daily Record‘s transfer news blog (1.58pm, January 16) claims Commons is earning £18,000 a week, and a move needs to be secured to save the Hoops some much-needed cash.

Logan Bailly

The eight-time Belgium international is currently third in the goalkeeper pecking order under Rodgers, behind the likes of Craig Gordon and Dorus de Vries.

With two years still remaining on his current deal, a new home should be found for the former Borussia Monchengladbach and Genk stopper.

Efe Ambrose

The Scottish Daily Mail claim Blackburn are keen to bring the Nigeria international to Ewood Park, and a move would suit him as he faces huge competition for a place at centre back.

Jozo Simunovic, Dedryck Boyata, Erik Sviatchenko and Kolo Toure are ahead of him under Rodgers, and a move is needed to stop his career from stagnating.

Nir Bitton

Israel international Bitton is likely to be pushed even further down the rankings in the Celtic midfield, following the £3million signing of teenager Kouassi Eboue.

Celtic’s number six was dropped earlier this season after a string of poor performances, and is now even less likely to earn a sport in Rodgers’ first team.

Gary Mackay-Steven

The former Dundee United winger could be considered as slightly unlucky not to be given a first-team chance, as Scott Sinclair’s sparkling form keeps him sidelined.

Making just four appearances this season, the attacker needs a move to reignite the form he is capable. A loan could show Rodgers that he is still able to offer quality to the Celtic side.

In other Celtic transfer news, Rodgers has given this transfer update on another Hoops star.

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