According to a recent interview conducted by Football Insider, ex-Premiership defender Alan Hutton has tipped Celtic to cash in on midfield ace Callum McGregor if a big enough bid arrives from any potential suitors, including Brendan Rodgers’ high-flying Leicester City.
The defender was quick to heap praise about the midfielder’s ability and importance to the team but refused to rule out the possibility of him departing Parkhead if the Hoops are satisfied monetarily. Hutton went on to brand McGregor as the ‘catalyst’ in Neil Lennon’s rather attack-minded setup.
Although Hutton says that Celtic could cash in on Callum McGregor as per the report, whether or not Lennon is prepared to do so remains to be seen. Speaking on the matter, he said, “I don’t want to curse him or anything but he’s never injured. He is the catalyst. He’s a mainstay in the team, and he’s one of those guys who is a future captain.
“It really depends how he sees his future going. Does he want to do a Scott Brown and stay for years and play for the one club, or does he fancy challenging himself at, arguably, a topfour club. It’s going to be a tough decision, but money talks, and if Leicester come in with a £20 million up front bid, it will be difficult to turn down.”
What Is Celtic’s Current Midfield Situation?
The reigning Premiership champions haven’t started this new campaign in the best manner, and the loss of another key midfielder would only make the situation worse for the gaffer. The debacle surrounding the actions of Boli Bolingoli already took a pretty big toll on the squad, with a couple of the Celts’ league matches being postponed because of the incident as well. Having now returned to action, things haven’t looked quite as comfortable as usual for Neil Lennon’s side since that point.
Scott Brown and Callum McGregor have been the first-choice midfield combination, and the duo has been pivotal in ensuring that the Celts haven’t lost a match in the league yet. Olivier Ntcham has been utilised sparingly but doesn’t look like the kind of player with the discipline required to sit in front of the back-line. The recent acquisition of David Turnbull would likely smoothen the blow a little bit, but expecting the youngster to take over from McGregor immediately would surely be over-committing. Nir Bitton, initially brought in as a holding midfielder, now plays the role of one of the Hoops’ back-up centre-halves too.
What Does McGregor Add To This Celtic Team?
The Scot is, without a doubt, among the most crucial members of Neil Lennon’s setup, and taking his influence out of the team would surely have dire effects. Not only is McGregor the man responsible for starting every attack, but his superior dribbling and ball-playing skills have been massive for the Celts as well. Often seen sitting alongside Brown offering added protection to the back-line, the sheer amount of quality that he brings to the middle of the park cannot be underplayed. Regarded as the ideal successor to Brown, selling McGregor would require the Parkhead club to immediately acquire a replacement to subdue the impact.
Hutton Says That Celtic Could Cash In On Callum McGregor: Should Lennon Sell?
The midfielder has been one of the few regulars in Lennon’s teams over the last couple of seasons. His contributions, despite not always being appreciated, are vital to the system that the gaffer has set up at the Premiership club. The former Notts County man possesses excellent ball control as well as passing abilities, while the amount of vision that he brings to the table is irreplaceable as well. At the end of the day, Brown and McGregor are extremely different players, but the most faithful of supporters would surely have hoped to see McGregor replacing the skipper as the midfield commander of this Celtic team.
