CHRIS SUTTON insists there are still questions to be answered as Ange Posetcoglou’s new-look Celtic comes together.
The Hoops boss added three more players – Greek striker Giorgos Giakoumakis, Portuguese winger Filipe Jota and England-born US international centre-half Cameron Carter-Vickers – to take his total of summer signings to ten and that does not include the arrivals of Sheffield Wednesday’s out-of-contract double-act of Osaze Urhoghide and Liam Shaw.
Goalkeeper Joe Hart, defenders Josip Juranovic, Carl Starfelt and Liam Scales, midfielder James McCarthy, winger Liel Abada and forward Kyogo Furuhashi have also been added to the player pool over a frantic couple of months of wheeling and dealing.
Out have gone wantaway trio Kristoffer Ajer (Brentford), Ryan Christie (Bournemouth) and Odsonne Edouard (Crystal Palace).
MAN ON A MISSION…Ange Postecoglou has worked tirelessly in the transfer market.
There is still some uncertainty how the team will gel during the reign of Postecoglou, but Sutton is convinced it’s all over for one player who has spent seven-and-a-half years in the east end of Glasgow.
The one-time England international frontman said: “One thing I’m more sure about is that Leigh Griffiths’ time at the club has come to an end.
“I know he said he still thinks he has a future at Celtic, but with a move to Dundee and his contract up in the summer, I just can’t see it.
“Griffiths getting an extension this year was a strange one, getting a new deal in 12 months would be even more surprising regardless of what he does at Dundee.
“He had a bit of a dig at Neil Lennon on his way out of Parkhead and you know what, I can actually see both sides.
“I get Lennon battering him for not pulling his weight. But I can also see the other side, as it’s the manager’s job to make sure his players are doing what’s necessary.”
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES…Leigh Griffiths celebrates his hat-trick in the 5-0 win over St Mirren on March 7 2020 – the last game before the Covid lockdown.
Sutton, speaking to the Daily Record, added: “I know Griffiths thinks I’ve had it in for him as well as everyone else, but I’ve said it a million times, I like him as a player.
“Any criticism from me has been because I knew he could have done better.
“It’s time for him to do his talking on the pitch now and show James McPake he means business. We’ve heard it all before, but who knows, maybe this time the penny will drop.
“I suspect the ship will have sailed for him at Celtic, though, and Postecoglou is pushing ahead with his plans for the club.
“Griffiths looks to be in the past at Parkhead, but the major changes to the squad have given fans reasons to be optimistic for the future.”
