EFE AMBROSE could be one of the first through the exit as Brendan Rodgers kick-starts his Celtic clear-out.
Turkish giants Fenerbahce are keen on the Nigerian defender who joined the Hoops from Israeli outfit Ashdod in 2012 and still has a year to run on his current contract.
Ambrose has been involved in some high-profile calamities in his stay at Parkhead and is likely to be moved on by the new Celtic boss.
Rodgers has reported transfer funds in the region of £15million and cash brought in from sales of players will add to his financial muscle as he rebuilds the squad..
Fenerbahce, like the Parkhead side, are gearing up for a tilt at the Champions League qualifiers in the new season after coming second in the Super Lig, five points behind Besiktas.
Nadir Ciftci, bought by Ronny Deila from Dundee United for £1.5million in the summer, will return to Glasgow after his disastrous four-month stint at Eskisehispor who were relegated from the Turkish top flight.
The striker, sent off in his second game for the club, scored three goals for the team, one fewer than his total at Celtic in 22 appearances.
Ironically, Stefan Scepovic, who cost £2.3million from Sporting Gijon in August 2014, will also return after his season-long deal at Getafe who also lost their top-flight status.
The Serbian frontman only managed six goals in 26 outings in his first term in Glasgow before returning on his temporary transfer to Spain. He scored six times in 25 games.
Both are likely to be put up for offer and removed from the champions’ wage bill.
Emilio Izaguirre, with two years still to run, will also be put up for grabs and Stefan Johansen, after a wretched campaign, will be on the move, too. Bundesliga outfits, notably SV Hamburg, have been monitoring the Norwegian’s situation.
Versatile defender Charlie Mulgrew will be a free agent next month and has admitted he is eager to have talks to extend his stay at Paradise.
International winger James Forrest is in a similar position after knocking back a new deal during the season. Forrest is keen to remain in Glasgow but has held out in the hope that the club might meet his financial expectations.
Striker Colin Kazim-Richards’ stay at the five-in-a-row title winners could be short-lived, too, after his move from Feyenoord in January.
The London-born Turkish international, with two goals in 13 appearances, still has two-and-a-half years to run on his contract.
Rodgers will also have to sift through the other loan stars who will return to the Hoops such as Hibs’ Scottish Cup heroes Anthony Stokes and Liam Henderson who were instrumental in the Edinburgh club ending their 114-year hoodoo in the thrilling 3-2 win over “Rangers”, which denied them their first ever major honour in Scottish football.
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It’s a beautiful Sunday!
