There is little question that a clearout is on the cards when Brendan Rodgers gets his feet under the desk next month at Celtic Park.

With a bloated midfield and a lopsided squad, there was always going to be players moving on from the club even before Rodgers spoke of his desire to work with a small, tight squad.

The former Liverpool boss was quick to speak up Scott Brown, the club captain, at his initial press conference where he was unveiled to the media while there has also been a suggestion that Charlie Mulgrew, who appeared certain to move on this summer, could be offered a deal to remain in Glasgow.

One who could be moved on, though, is the enigmatic Stefan Johansen.

The midfielder was impressive under Ronny Deila throughout the Norwegian’s first season at Celtic but seemed to wither entirely last year.

Close friends with Virgil van Dijk off the pitch, there seemed to be a feeling from some sources within the club that when his mate headed south to the big bucks of Southampton in the Premiership that Johansen seemed to be like a little boy lost at Lennoxtown.

How much truth there is in that is difficult to tell but what was apparent is how out of his depth he looked at the heart of the Celtic midfield. One chance he scorned against Malmo at the play-off stage of the UEFA Champions League qualifiers last season which would have put Celtic 3-0 up and effectively into the tournament seemed to set the tone for the indifferent campaign which followed.

And while Rodgers will doubtless want to get a look himself at what he has got to work with before he makes the call on how he wants to build his team, if there are funds to be made available by trimming the squad and moving players on, then it would seem sensible to take it.

“We have been in contract negotiations for a while, but I have not signed anything yet,” said Johansen. “We'll see if it happens or not.”

Johansen was impressed by the acquisition of Rodgers although it remains to be seen whether or not there is a working relationship between the two come the start of the new season.

The Norwegian has been linked with a move to the Bundesliga and has remained tight-lipped about what the next step may be for him.

“There is a manager with a lot of experience, he has coached big clubs like Liverpool and Swansea,” he told a news agency in his native country. “I think he will be a good match for Celtic, and the football he stands for is also suitable for the club, says Johansen. I have not talked to him yet, and I do not know him personally.

“I completely trust that my agent does what is best for me. I have a year left on my contract with Celtic and focuses on it,” said Johansen. “I hope it is not only under Ronny Deila I can play football.”

Meanwhile, Ryan Christie is keen to get started as soon as the Hoops players get back to business next month.

The striker netted is first Celtic goal in the 7-0 rout of Motherwell on the final day of the season and is now looking to make an immediate impact under Rodgers.

“It’s nice when a new gaffer comes in because everyone knows they’re on the same level and you’re just fighting for a place to impress, so it’ll be in everyone’s head to step in the door on top form at pre-season,” he told celticfc.net.

“Obviously you go away in the summer to enjoy yourself and relax, but you keep yourself in good enough shape so that when you come back in you’re as fit as you can be as you are trying to impress the new gaffer straight away.

“As soon as you come back you realise for pre-season that you don’t actually have that long. It’s not like you have another month-and-a-half before your first game of the season. You need to go straight away.

“Obviously it has been frustrating not playing but it’s such a big squad and I need to remember I’ve signed a four-year deal so I’m here for the long term. I know that I’ve definitely learned and improved as a player, even if I’m not playing.

“I definitely feel I’ve come on through training with the boys and I’ve got stronger and fitter, so from that aspect I don’t really feel like it has stalled my improvement, so that’s good, but like I said, there is a very big squad so it’s hard to even get your name on the list before a game, but when I have been involved I’ve enjoyed it."