Chris Sutton leaks private talk he’s had with Callum McGregor celtic may face the captain departure
Chris Sutton sends Callum McGregor Celtic transfer warning
This comes as the star midfielder and club captain has been linked with a move to join ex-Parkhead manager Brendan Rodgers in Saudi Arabia.
Rodgers, currently managing Al-Qadsiah, is reportedly interested in reuniting with McGregor either this month or in the summer.
Addressing the situation, Sutton said (RecordSport): “If Celtic think they can trundle along and it will be alright on the night as usual, then they have another thing coming.
I understand January is a difficult window – enough people in the game tell us – but it shouldn’t be this hard.
“And the way Celtic are scrambling, it doesn’t bode well for the future either.
“What happens if Callum McGregor decides to go at the end of the season?
That’s another major issue that could be lurking around the corner with talk of joining Brendan Rodgers in Saudi Arabia.”
“You wouldn’t blame him,” he added.
“McGregor will be 33 in the summer and has achieved everything possible at the club.
“Is he going to stick around for another massive rebuild under another new manager or get out while the going is good?
“I can’t see him departing this month, and it’s just as well, as losing him now is unthinkable.
“But McGregor needs support. And some kind of vision.
“It seems O’Neill will need to dig around the loan market and a lot of those deals don’t get done until the end of the window.”
Chris Sutton has expressed concerns over Callum McGregor’s potential departure from Celtic, warning that the club shouldn’t expect things to just “trundle along” if they lose their star midfielder. McGregor, 32, has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia to join ex-Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers at Al-Qadsiah, with reports suggesting he’s being offered a significant salary increase ¹ ² ³.
Sutton believes Celtic needs to provide McGregor with support and a clear vision for the future, rather than just hoping he’ll stay. “You wouldn’t blame him” for leaving, Sutton said, considering McGregor’s achievements at the club and his age. The midfielder has been instrumental in Celtic’s success, but Sutton thinks the club’s recent transfer struggles could push him out the door ¹.
There’s no indication McGregor wants to leave Celtic, but the possibility of a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia is a significant factor. Celtic will likely try to retain him, but it won’t be easy if Rodgers makes an ambitious bid ² ³.
Callum McGregor, Celtic’s captain and midfield maestro, has been instrumental in the team’s success. With 554 senior career appearances, he’s won 12 Scottish Premiership titles, 7 Scottish Cups, and 8 League Cups. McGregor’s impressive stats include 77 goals and 14 assists in 554 appearances ¹.
*Recent Form:*
– 2 goals and 1 assist in 22 matches this season
– 1.70 expected goals (xG) and 1.50 xG on target (xGOT)
– 1,506 successful passes with a 93.5% success rate
*Transfer Rumors:*
Celtic is facing a potential departure for McGregor, with Saudi Arabia clubs showing interest. Chris Sutton warns that Celtic shouldn’t expect things to “trundle along” if they lose their star midfielder
