Chris Sutton reckons Celtic trio Yuki Kobayashi, Marco Tilio and Gustaf Lagerbielke could leave the club during the transfer window this month.

The former Parkhead striker is concerned the players have failed to prove they are good enough to force their way into the Celtic first-team this season.

And Sutton places the players in the group of footballers who will look for "escape routes" from their clubs this month due to a lack of game time.

Discussing Celtic's transfer incoming options in his Daily Record column, Sutton stated the players available this month fall into one of three categories; playing out of their skin and in high demand, needing a move due to not being good enough to play at their club or youngsters and 'project players'.

Unfortunately for Lagerbielke, Kobayashi and Tilio, Sutton placed them in the category of "hunting escape routes are doing it because they aren’t good enough to get into their own team".

He wrote: "The first question you ask is with them is: Why aren’t you playing? Why is your club letting you go? Aren't you that good?

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"Sure there are exceptions, but, mainly, the ones hunting escape routes are doing it because they aren’t good enough to get into their own team. I give you Gustaf Lagerbielke, Marco Tillo, Yuki Kobayashi, et al."

On the market Celtic could operate inn on the transfer incoming front, Sutton explained: "This is a dilemma facing Celtic right now. The fans are screaming for signings. The manager and his captain Callum McGregor are screaming for signings. But I can imagine it's a tricky sell. Or buy, if you prefer.

"There are three types available at this stage of the season. The first are the ones who are playing out of their skin. Everyone wants them and you better be shelling out the top dollar if you want them.

"The third batch are the kids getting loaned-out, the unknowns and the, whisper it, projects. Now you can get good ones. There are plum examples in recent Januarys for Celtic. Let’s be honest, Reo Hatate was, at the time, a near project. He didn’t have a lot of game-time in his career, he wasn’t really known to fans here and available on a tiny fee in comparison to his talent because no-one else was looking where Ange Postecoglou was looking."