CELTIC flop Jahmai Simpson-Pusey will spend the rest of the season on loan with Cologne after cutting short a disappointing spell in Scotland.
The 20-year-old Manchester City prospect moved to Parkhead in the summer but clocked only 64 minutes of action for the Glasgow club, leading to the termination of the deal.
Simpson-Pusey was left out of the Hoops’ Europa League squad and instead had to make do with minutes playing for the B team and trying to impress Brendan Rodgers that way.
His hour-and-a-bit cameo in the Premiership came at right-back against Kilmarnock, after which then-interim boss Martin O’Neill (now back in the dugout) was rather scathing in his assessment of him.
O’Neill said: “I took a bit of a risk on him. I thought if he could play as a centre half, he could play out there.
“He got off to… not a brilliant start. I thought about taking him off after four minutes. Don’t tell him that! He did fine, and I think he got applauded off the pitch, which was nice.
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“Not necessarily by me, but honestly, I was delighted.”
The defender, who made six appearances for Pep Guardiola‘s City side last term, completed a medical over the weekend and has now joined his new Cologne team-mates at a training camp in La Nucia during the Bundesliga‘s winter break.
Simpson-Pusey told the German club’s website. “The move to Cologne is a fresh start for me, and one I’m really looking forward to.
“I want to play as much as possible here and help FC to reach their goals this season.”
Celtic could also be saying goodbye to captain Callum McGregor this month if he is tempted by a big-money transfer to join old boss Rodgers in Saudi Arabia.
We revealed last month that Rodgers, now manager at Al-Qadsiah, is keen on bringing the midfielder to the Middle East.
Defender Hayato Inamura has already departed having only made one appearance for the first team, joining FC Tokyo on loan.
So far the Hoops have welcomed versatile defender Julian Araujo on a loan deal from Premier League side Bournemouth.
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
