Paul Lambert has insisted Callum McGregor is replaceable at Celtic - but admitted there must be a long-term succession plan for the modern-day club legend.
Rumours have persisted around a potential departure from Parkhead for Saudi Arabia and a possible reunion with Brendan Rodgers in the Middle East for the Celtic captain.
While far from wishing McGregor away from the club, Lambert has warned that no player is irreplaceable at Celtic as he urged against the "grave danger" of thinking otherwise.
Speaking to the Daily Record, the Celtic hero said: “Is Callum irreplaceable? No. Everybody’s replaceable. For me, you look at the best Celtic midfielders in Bobby Murdoch and Paul McStay.
“Those lads leave and Celtic keeps going. Nobody’s irreplaceable. If people think that, then you’re in grave danger.
“Everybody has to have a shelf life and everybody has to think, ‘If I don’t perform well, I’m out of the team here’. Or you leave or you retire.
“It moves on. It’s a big wheel. It just keeps turning. So you can’t have any sentimental value. No, I always think everybody’s replaceable."
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Despite insisting Celtic would consider players who could take McGregor's spot in the starting XI, Lambert reckons at the current time there is no one who could be his successor.
The Parkhead legend is therefore hopeful Martin O'Neill will add to his midfield options - and also plan for the long-term.
“There’s no natural successor to Callum at the club," he said. "There needs to be a long-term plan, unless they have somebody coming through the academy.
“But you certainly need a like-for-like if somebody is out injured. I had that all my days. You have to have it."
