The first block of Celtic players returned to Lennoxtown yesterday as preparations begin for the forthcoming season with Christopher Jullien spotted in the video posted by Celtic TV.
The French defender only managed one appearance for the Hoops last season, coming off the bench in a Scottish fixture against Raith Rovers.
It’s exactly three years to the day since Celtic signed Jullien from Toulouse for a fee to be around £7 million.
He had a terrific first season in the Hoops scoring important goals against Lazio and Rangers in the League Cup Final amongst others.
The past two seasons have not been kind to the 29 year old with injury limiting his game time after he suffered a horrific knee injury against Dundee United in late 2020.
With the defenders contract up next summer, a decision on Jullien’s future will have to be made sooner rather than later.
Celtic won’t recoup anything near to what they paid back in 2019 but could still receive some kind of fee for the player. He will be one of the major earners at the club due to the sum paid three years ago.
There will be a balance to the managers budget and moving Jullien on could free up some wages for another player.
Although the Frenchman has stated that he wants to stay at Celtic and still has a point to prove, with Cameron Carter-Vickers signing a permanent contract at this point Jullien is likely fourth choice.
We’ve shot ourselves in the foot before hanging on to players as their contracts expire and unless the manager believes that he can turn to Jullien when needed then I would move the player on as he needs game time which is something he just isn’t going to get just now.
