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Celtic tipped to offload James McCarthy this summer after 'hell of a deal' agreed - Scottish pundit
Alex McLeish has suggested Celtic could look to offload James McCarthy this summer after a lack of game time at Parkhead.
The former Scotland manager, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, questioned whether the 31-year-old “has the legs” to deliver what Ange Postecoglou wants.
McCarthy joined his boyhood club on a free transfer last summer, signing a four-year contract at Celtic Park.
McLeish admitted the midfielder had managed to negotiate “a hell of a deal”.
However, he suggested the Bhoys may be considering a summer sale.
Discussing McCarthy’s contract, McLeish told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “Maybe cue a move for James if he’s not in the plans. That is a hell of a deal, I didn’t realise that.
“It must have been the only way that he would come back. I’m sure the fact that they got him free that his agent would have negotiated a very good deal for him.
“Listen, you can’t go on forever. I’m not saying James is finished but he is in the older part of his career.
“He’ll still have bags of experience to offer the team when he comes onto the pitch. I think he will be very prudent with the ball at his feet.
“His teammates can trust a guy like that when he comes on the pitch. Maybe he’s not quite got the legs that Postecoglou demands for the style Celtic are playing.
“In a moment, he can come on maybe for a change of tactics or whatever. He’s a player that has been round the block, big time, in the Premier League and had a great career. He’s playing for the team he started at.”
McCarthy has started just six times in 20 appearances for the Hoops so far.
In other news, pundit makes “massive” transfer claim after Kieran Maguire’s “£40million” reveal.