Former Celtic man Frank McAvennie has picked out the three Hoops players who he believes caused Neil Lennon issues last season, Football Insider report.
The Lowdown: Lennon’s comments
Lennon recently spoke out about his final season in charge at Parkhead, claiming some players pulled out of Celtic fixtures when fit during the 2020/21 campaign.
Talking to The Scottish Sun, the Northern Irishman claimed he could tell as early as pre-season that some of the squad weren’t in it, which brought the likes of Scott Brown and Callum McGregor down by players who didn’t want to be at the club.
And McAvennie has now named and shamed three players who he feels were the main culprits.
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The Latest: McAvennie reacts
McAvennie, who remains well connected with his former club, was talking to Football Insider following Lennon’s comments.
He claimed that Kristoffer Ajer and Ryan Christie didn’t want to play, before picking out Odsonne Edouard for criticism, with all three leaving the Hoops over the summer.
“Ajer, Christie, they didn’t want to play.
“That’s who Lennon was talking about. I said that through all of last season. Look at Edouard in that first Palace game too.
“When he made his debut, he did more in 20 minutes than he did for Celtic last season.
“I could see that desire back, that wasn’t there last season. I criticised those players all of last season.
“Anyone who knows football can see when players aren’t trying. Ajer and Christie wanted to go.
“Lennon should have let them go, he sounded furious, they were never going to give their all for the club.
“Now they have got their moves and they aren’t fixing the mess they caused.”
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The Verdict: Good summer business
Celtic received £17.5m for Ajer, who joined Brentford, £2.5m for Christie, who signed for Bournemouth and £14m for Edouard who left Parkhead for Crystal Palace.
That’s a total of £34m for three players who reportedly downed tools in Glasgow, according to McAvennie, a respectable amount, especially with Christie and Edouard leaving on deadline day.
The Hoops made a healthy profit after bringing in 12 players, so overall, you’d have to say that Celtic had a good window shipping out players who were fed up at Parkhead.
In other news: BBC man thinks Ange will now axe big earner who’s been a regular after update from Celtic source.
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