Who is Celtic's next academy star? And who is coming & going this summer?

Celtic Q&A
[BBC]

BBC Sport Scotland reporter Kheredine Idessane has been answering some of your questions on Celtic.

Michael asked: Where are Celtic's academy stars? Where's the next Aiden McGeady, Shaun Maloney or Callum McGregor? Why are they not making it through?

Kheredine answered: Excellent question, and one which I am sure is being asked not just by Brendan Rodgers but also by his board.

The names you mention there are all excellent examples of the type of talent Celtic - indeed all Scottish clubs - must produce as part of a workable business model.

I was at the Scottish Youth Cup final between Celtic and Rangers in 2023. An-11 goal thriller, you might recall. I remember being impressed by Daniel Cummings up front and Mitchel Frame at full-back.

The former is heading to West Ham this summer, it would seem, while the latter's only appearance for the first team came in a Champions League cameo against Feyenoord last season.

Frame's problem is Celtic have been pretty well off in the left-back position and are about to get arguably stronger with the return of Kieran Tierney.

Ben Doak is the one who got away. Handed a debut under Ange Postecoglou, he preferred the chance to try his luck at Liverpool rather than stay at Celtic.

It can be a difficult balancing act. Will young players be patient enough to bide their time in the B team or on the fringes of the first team? Or can the manager find a better way to integrate top talent into the matchday squad?

One constant remains, of course - they have to be good enough in the first place.

Michael asked: Where do Celtic need to strengthen for next season? Who will be the possible departures from Parkhead?

Kheredine answered: Crystal ball time, is it?

The easy one is Greg Taylor, who hasn't renewed and is out of contract. He's been a very good player for Celtic, and with Tierney's imminent return it's fair enough that he doesn't fancy being second pick and wants to test himself elsewhere.

The problematic one for the club would be Daizen Maeda. Celtic's star man is essential to the way Brendan Rodgers wants his side to play, which gives the Japan forward a pretty strong hand in his ongoing contract negotiations, right?

Improved terms are on the table, and little wonder. Celtic will be keen as mustard to keep hold of him.

The platform of the Champions League, should Celtic qualify, might be enough to tempt Nicola Kuhn and Reo Hatate to hang around. That said, Celtic's business model is such that if good offers come in for them, and the players want to go, the club will take the money.

The summer budget should be spent on another striker to complement Maeda and Adam Idah, and also allow Rodgers to go with his preferred option of Maeda and Jota on the wings.

Another centre-half is probably required to vie with whoever plays alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers.

If Jeffrey Schlupp leaves in the summer, you could also argue Celtic need a couple of full-backs, with Taylor departing. Promote from the youth team with Frame? See above.

Tony asked: Have Rangers or Celtic ever lost three derbies in a season and still won the league?

Kheredine answered: Another excellent question, to which the answer is: No.

Celtic and Rangers have played each other four times a season in the league since the 1975-76 campaign.

Never in the near half-century since has either lost three top-flight derbies and won the ...

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