The summer window has barely creaked open and already Celtic are facing a sobering dose of reality. Kelechi Iheanacho, the Nigerian striker who arrive...
The summer window has barely creaked open and already Celtic are facing a sobering dose of reality. Kelechi Iheanacho, the Nigerian striker who arrived with a reputation for clinical finishing and a point to prove, has turned his back on a new contract at Parkhead. GoalZaza has learned that the 27 year old has instead opted to take his talents to Turkish side Bursaspor, a move that raises serious questions about the club's ability to hold onto its prized assets.For Iheanacho, this is a gamble wrapped in considerable risk. He was never quite the talisman Celtic fans hoped for, his time in Glasgow often a frustrating mix of clever link up play and maddening inconsistency. But he was a proven goalscorer at this level, a player capable of unlocking a low block with a single pass or a sharp turn in the box. To lose that resource without a significant fee is a body blow to the manager's planning, a reminder that the lure of the Scottish Premiership is not always enough to keep a hungry forward from wandering.Then there is the curious case of Marcelo Saracchi. The Uruguayan left back, whose loan spell was notable more for its absence than its impact, has finally thrown in the towel. He has admitted defeat in his quest to return to Celtic, a tacit acknowledgement that his future lies elsewhere. Was he ever really part of the picture The silence from the club on his return spoke volumes. Sometimes a player just doesn't fit the tactical flexibility required, and Saracchi, for all his willing runs, never looked comfortable in the transitional phases of the Scottish game.Let's be honest. Celtic have a habit of making the hard decisions look easy. But letting a striker of Iheanacho's calibre walk for nothing, while simultaneously cutting ties with a full back who never truly settled, feels less like a master plan and more like a stumble. The core of the squad remains strong, but the margin for error in the title race is thinner than a Jimmy Johnstone shinpad. Squeaky bum time Not yet. But the warning lights are flickering. The manager now has to find a finisher who wants the shirt, not just a contract, and a left back who actually wants to sling crosses into the mixer. The market waits for no one, and the clock is already ticking.
