Sources: Celtic plan to accept January offer for James McCarthy
Celtic will listen to offers for James McCarthy in January, sources have told Football Insider.
The Republic of Ireland international, 31, has struggled to make an impact at Parkhead and is not part of Ange Postecoglou’s long-term plans.
Celtic are keen to free up space on their wage bill and find a new club for McCarthy in the second half of the season.
But the Glasgow giants face a major battle to shift McCarthy, who signed a four-year contract worth around £20,000-a-week when he joined in the summer of 2021.
He has failed to justify that deal with just four Scottish Premiership starts in his two seasons at the club – all of which came during the 2021-22 campaign.
The former Crystal Palace midfielder has played a total of 62 minutes from the substitutes’ bench this term across domestic and European competition.
McCarthy has seen a number of midfield reinforcements come in ahead of him during the off-season, with Aaron Mooy and Oliver Abildgaard enjoying game time at his expense.
Football Insider revealed on Tuesday (25 October) that Celtic have set aside more cash to sign a new central midfielder in January with the Hoops ready to back Postecoglou in the transfer market.
The Australian has revealed (via The Scotsman, 19 October) that planning for the winter window is “well underway” after his team conducted “really beneficial” early business last season.
News of Celtic’s plans comes despite their poor form in the Champions League.
The Hoops were dumped out of the competition earlier this month and have been eliminated from all continental football following their 1-1 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday (25 October).
However, Postecoglou’s side lead their Scottish Premiership rivals Rangers by four points.
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