Celtic have had a number of players out on loan this season, and for differing reasons. Some have been sent out to gain some valuable first-team experience, whilst others have been shipped out simply because the club has not yet found a suitor for a permanent move.
One of the players who falls into the latter category is Sead Hakšabanović, whose loan exit swiftly materialised after an Instagram post came accompanied with the caption: “If they don’t see your value maybe you’re not at the right place”.
His loan spell at Stoke City hasn't turned out exactly how the Montenegrin would have liked, however, and it looks like the Potters aren't keen on keeping the attacker on after the end of his season-long loan spell.
A once promising player at Celtic, it looks like he will be in the shop window in the summer for a rumoured fee of around £2.2million, but where did things go wrong for Sead Hakšabanović at Celtic?
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Early promise
The Montenegrin had shown some promise as a young player, enough to earn himself a move to Premier League side West Ham, but that move ultimately didn’t provide the best of results.
Hakšabanović signed for Celtic from Rubin Kazan last summer for a fee in the region of €2.5m and he seemed to fit the consistent tag that followed Ange Postecoglou’s signings as someone who had a point to prove.
Good performances from the bench led to fans being eager to see more of a player who was quickly being called a maverick. A double in a 4-2 home win over Dundee United as well as a pair of starts in the UEFA Champions League against RB Leipzig and Shakhtar Donetsk quickly gained him the tag of ‘cult hero’ and fans were predicting big things for him.
Supporters were excited and knew something was going to happen when he was on the ball, but where did it all go downhill after looking so bright?
Inconsistency under Ange
Signed from Rubin Kazan, a club that Celtic targeted for talent at that time with Carl Starfelt and Oliver Abildgaard also joining the Hoops from the Russian side.
Things were looking positive in the early stages, and after a bright debut against Ross County he grabbed an assist in the following fixture against St Johnstone.
However, there was a lot of competition for places in the Celtic attack, and everyone was on top form with aims of playing in the Champions League.
Arguably his best moment in that season was a brilliant strike in a 3-1 win over Hearts, but it seemed like Hakšabanović was a player who showed flashes of brilliance, rather than someone who thrived on consistency.
At a team like Celtic, consistency is key, and Hakšabanović seemed more effective as an impact sub rather than as a starter. When he did start, he flattered to deceive and never showed anywhere near the same qualities that he did when he appeared from the bench, often seeing games pass him by which led to him failing to nail down a starting spot in his first season at the club.
Lack of impact from the start
The turn of the year saw Hakšabanović’s minutes start to dwindle with the winger being relegated to the bench but still consistently making a positive impact on games whenever he was brought on. The problem from January onwards, however, was that whenever he was afforded a start, he failed to grab it by the scruff of the neck.
Games consistently passed him by and, with Brendan Rodgers replacing Ange Postecoglou, Hakšabanović quickly fell down the pecking order and out of favour.
Unhappiness at game time
Rodgers clearly wasn’t a fan of Hakšabanović and that was evident in his game time at the start of the season, only seeing 45 minutes of competitive football under the new gaffer.
A potential move to play as an attacking midfielder for Celtic never fully materialised and he grew frustrated with a lack of game-time, this all resulting in the aforementioned Instagram post which sealed his fate at Celtic.
Whilst showing glimpses of quality, consistency was always missing from Hakšabanović’s game and he was never able to build upon his appearances from the bench and turn it into a top quality performance over the course of 90 minutes. The fact that his frustrations were vented so publicly and in such a disrespectful manner means that a future at Celtic following the loan spell in Stoke is very unlikely.
Public falling out with Rodgers and hard times at Stoke
Despite his inconsistencies, his impact from the bench meant that there was still a part for him to play at Celtic, but he wasn't content with just being a backup.
Hakšabanović hasn't been able to make an impression down south in what has been a tough time with injuries for the 24-year-old. His only goal in his 21 appearances came way back in September, and the Potters reportedly won't be looking to keep him on past the summer.
There could have been a chance at redemption at Celtic had he not sealed his fate with an irresponsible social media post, and the club will most likely be looking to ship Hakšabanović back out in the summer.
James McKenzie // @JamesWHMcKenzie