---
title: "Celtic: Hoops will be ‘open’ to James McCarthy offers"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-james-mccarthy-alan-hutton-latest-transfer-news-rumours-updates/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Chloe Chadwick"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2022-11-03T18:35:55Z"
modified: "2022-11-03T18:35:55Z"
---

# Celtic: Hoops will be ‘open’ to James McCarthy offers

**[Celtic](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-news/) will be ‘open’ to any kind of exit for James McCarthy should offers arrive in January, according to [BBC pundit](https://icdb.tv/stats/3725/Alan-Hutton) Alan Hutton.**

### The Lowdown: Celtic green-light McCarthy departure

The [Premiership](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/scottish-premiership-news/) champions signed the midfielder on a [four-year](https://www.celticfc.com/news/2021/august/Double-signing-delight-as-Joe-Hart-and-James-McCarthy-join-Celtic/) deal in the summer of 2021, but he has so far failed to make any significant impact in Ange Postecoglou’s starting XI.

Recent [reports](https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-celtic-plan-accept-january-offer-for-james-mccarthy/) have claimed that the Glasgow outfit will be listening to proposals for the 31-year-old in the winter, with the Parkhead hierarchy wanting him to ‘find a new club’ in an attempt to ‘free up space’ on the wage bill.

### The Latest: Hutton’s comments

Asked by [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/celtic-tipped-to-green-light-james-mccarthy-deal-after-sources-reveal-pundit/) whether Celtic would rather McCarthy left on a loan or permanent basis in the New Year, Hutton said: “I think they will be open to both.

“I think if they can get some money in through the door to then reinvest it somewhere else I think they would rather that option.

“There is no getting away from the fact that he is a really great football player. He has struggled with injuries over the years.

“I was surprised at the contract they actually gave him. It was a long-term deal at the time with somebody who had not really been able to stay fit. It was a bit of a strange one.

“When he has played we have seen in flashes what he is capable of but it has not been on that consistent level. I think if offers do come in they will definitely listen to them.“

[Key latest Celtic updates!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/key-latest-celtic-updates-9/)

### The Verdict: Correct call

McCarthy has previously been [dubbed](https://twitter.com/buntingfootball/status/731962771714215936?s=46&t=uV2I5LpzHYt5Q5xrX2Rw2w) ‘sublime’ by journalist Josh Bunting, but making the decision to let him leave would be the right one from Celtic.

The Republic of Ireland international has only recorded [one](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-mccarthy/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/45333) assist in 27 appearances for the Hoops and has started [zero](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/31281/Show/James-McCarthy) games this season, with a mere 30 minutes of game-time across all competitions showing how out of favour he is under Postecoglou.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”410935″\]

Having been nothing more than a bit-part player since the manager’s arrival at Parkhead, McCarthy will be in need of game-time; and with the Hoops ready to cash in, a permanent exit would be in the best interests of both parties.