If the takeover bid at Rangers is successful do the new owners keep Philippe Clement?
CRAIG SWAN: You would imagine that any new owners would want their own man. Most of them usually do. That doesn’t bode well for Clement.
ANDY NEWPORT: Can’t say it looks promising for the Belgian. The current board’s decision to keep him on suddenly makes sense with a takeover on the horizon. It’s time for fresh energy at the club and that goes for the dugout as well as boardroom.
SCOTT BURNS: For me, it would be a fresh start and a chance to wipe the slate clean. I think it would be best to bring in a new manager that everybody can get behind. Too many fans have lost faith in Clement.
Daizen Maeda was No.9 for Celtic in Munich. With Jota up to speed, is that his main role?
CRAIG SWAN: It’s where the Japan hitman often operates for his country. If Rodgers wants to get his top performers on the park then that could be a solution given the form of Nicolas Kuhn, Maeda and Jota.
ANDY NEWPORT: It’s a second string option in the position with Adam Idah getting his share of starts. It will be horses for courses.
SCOTT BURNS: It’s not a bad option to have wide left or as a centre-forward. I think long-term he is likely to become the main striker. The high intensity of the role at Celtic means it will be shared with Idah.
Sam Dalby of Dundee United is Premiership top scorer. Who will it be at the end of the season?
CRAIG SWAN: Dalby might just fend off the rest and stay at the summit if he keeps getting good service and United hit form.
ANDY NEWPORT: Vaclav Cerny and Kuhn are breathing down the Tannadice striker’s neck on 10 apiece. It will be nip and tuck between the trio all the way to the end but you fancy the Celtic wing king to edge it given his incredible form.
SCOTT BURNS: Kuhn is just one behind Dalby. It would be hard to look beyond him with the number of chances Celtic create and goals they score.
Do you think there is any chance of Lawrence Shankland signing a new deal at Hearts?
CRAIG SWAN: It hasn’t looked on the cards for a while but it will come down to what offers he has on the table for elsewhere. There’s no point moving for the sake of it.
ANDY NEWPORT: Yes because I don’t think his current performance levels will earn him the kind of deal he’ll be hoping for. Last summer was the time for Shanks to move while he was hot after a 32-goal campaign.
SCOTT BURNS: I honestly don’t think there is much chance. I think Hearts will believe with the lack of offers they have an outside chance. The reality is Shanks will have bigger offers in the summer.
