£60m in the bank from selling McGregor and Edouard or 10-in-a-row? No contest, says former Celtic star Simon Donnelly

Celtic have plenty of decisions to make before the end of this season.

Getting them right could ensure they clinch nine titles in a row and a fourth consecutive treble.

The latest stage in that quest comes when they take on St Johnstone in the Scottish Cup quarter-final this afternoon.

Neil Lennon’s side have been in free-scoring form in domestic football, and that has led to teams across Europe casting envious eyes towards several of their players.

As ever, most speculation surrounds the future of the man getting the goals – Odsonne Edouard.

Clubs in England and beyond are also keeping an eye on Scotland midfielder Callum McGregor.

The Celtic way has been to buy cheaply, develop young players, and eventually sell them for big money.

But former Hoops forward Simon Donnelly believes they should resist offers this summer.

If we assume Celtic win the title – which looks almost inevitable – they’ll be going for 10-in-a-row next term.

© Steve Welsh

Donnelly was part of the Celtic side that stopped Rangers winning 10 consecutive titles in 1998.

They were elated to have stopped their biggest rivals setting a new Scottish record – something the Parkhead men could now do.

Donnelly said: “There will always be concern that bids could come in for the likes of Edouard and McGregor in the summer.

“Moussa Dembele came in and had a huge impact then left. Edouard was his understudy and has now kicked on.

“They recruited so well with those two. But if you lose your best players, it’s always a problem to go and find other ones.

“I experienced that myself as assistant manager at Dundee United! It’s not easy.

“Celtic’s recruitment up to now has been good. They’ll want to hold on to Edouard for another couple of seasons.

“Would it be a difficult decision if you’re offered £60 million for two players, while going for 10-in-a-row?

“Well, I know what I would do. I’d keep them and get the 10.

“That’s what the support want. They want to go on and beat the record.

“But football is a business nowadays. There was talk of McGregor leaving last summer but there would have been mutiny at Celtic because Kieran Tierney had just left.

“They tied him down, which was brilliant business because he’s their best midfielder.

“Now the attention is on Edouard, that’s natural because of his form.

“But they could get the same money in another 12 months’ time because the kid’s only going to get better.

“He’s only 21 and will kick on.

“And they could make that money anyway if they can qualify for the Champions League groups.

“The improved coefficient now could help them with that.”

When Donnelly won the Scottish Cup with Celtic in 1995, it ended a six-year trophy drought for the Hoops.

It was a workmanlike 1-0 victory over Airdrie. But the manner of the success didn’t really matter.

There’s enormous pressure to win trophies for the Old Firm sides, so the 45-year-old knows the tension Steven Gerrard must be feeling at Rangers.

Donnelly went on: “For the older guys, it must have been a lot of pressure in 1995.

“The McStays and Grants will have felt it, but I was only 19 and just delighted to be playing in a Scottish Cup final.

“It was a terrible game, but we got the job done.

“Every time Rangers have had a wee bit of success recently, you see the reaction of everybody connected with the club.

“They are craving success because Celtic have had so much.

“For the last two years, they have got to the turn of the year close and then, for whatever reason, have fallen away again.

“Celtic just seem to come up with the answer, year after year.”

Donnelly will be watching this weekend’s action with interest but, understandably, his thoughts are mostly concerned with his friend, Jackie McNamara.

The former Scotland defender is battling back after suffering a bleed on the brain earlier this month.

“He’s making positive inroads,” said Donnelly.

“It’ll take him time and a lot of rest.

“It was a shock for everyone. But the family have been overwhelmed by the support he’s had.

“I’ve been to see him twice and he was bright. It is going to take patience from everybody.

“Particularly him, because I know what he’s like. He’ll want to recover tomorrow but he has to take his time with it.”

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Simon Donnelly was speaking at a William Hill media event. William Hill is the proud sponsor of the Scottish Cup.