When Ange Postecoglou stood up to address the Celtic AGM last month, his message on transfers was two-fold. The keyword underpinning both points, however, was "aggressive".

“We’ve got to be going in step," the Parkhead boss said. "There is no point in me having a vision and being out of step with the business perspective. We try to fit the business model around that. We have to understand that to be a Champions League club – the ones we can compare ourselves with – the ones who make an impact is that they are constantly there.

“Then, once there, they look to continually grow in the football aspect within resources and finances. We need to be aggressive in our approach but within the financial constraints of a club like ours. Aggressive in the transfer market – it could be unsettling with players in and out quickly but if you look at the models of clubs our size they’re very agile.

“Every couple of years they regenerate and move players out at the right time with improved players in. We need to push aggressively over the next two to three years, first qualifying and then making an impact.We will need to move players around to make gains. We have to maximise our squad to get the greatest revenue from the club. I’m comfortable with that. It will be unsettling for you guys, you’ll have favourite players but we need to be wise.”

To summarise - expect new signings, but others will certainly leave.

With that in mind, a story in the Daily Record stating the club were preparing to part ways with striker Giorgos Giakoumakis caused a considerable stir on Thursday. It was reported the 27-year-old forward had failed to agree terms on a new contract, apparently feeling Celtic had failed to deliver on a pay rise promise if he enjoyed a successful first season. Finishing joint top scorer in the Premiership last term, despite missing a considerable chunk through injury, means there can be little doubt the Greek international did his part.

Some social media reaction dismissed the story simply as media mischief-making amid intense focus on the appointment of a new manager across the city, but doesn't it chime pretty closely with Postecoglou's AGM address? Of course, being told to prepare for the eventual departure of club heroes is one thing, dealing with goodbyes is another entirely. But Postecoglou has never hesitated in making clear he has a ruthless streak. One of the first things the manager declared upon his arrival in June 2021 is he would not attempt to convince players into committing to Celtic, that he was only interested in those who already had that desire burning within them. If Giakoumakis does, indeed, want to go, he probably won't find Postecoglou standing in his way. You might even suggest that Celtic's interest in Korean striker Cho Gue-sung breaking at pretty much the same time was no coincidence.

It's a tough one to take for supporters, who have grown immensely fond of Giakoumakis over the last year and a half. But this may well be Postecoglou's vision in action as he strives to establish Celtic as a Champions League club, and he did warn it might be painful. It would certainly be the very definition of aggressive. Giakoumakis' contract runs until 2026, by which time he will be 30, but his stock will arguably never be higher than it is just now. His goals to game ratio remains impressively consistent and last month he scored in the Champions League for the very first time, all while remaining Celtic's second-choice striker.

Kyogo Furuhashi continues to get the nod in most matches, and it's not unreasonable to think that perhaps doesn't always sit well with Giakoumakis. His media appearances since arriving in Glasgow suggest a highly confident, forthright personality - declaring at the height of last season's title race that Celtic would prevail certainly proved that - and there can be little doubt he will want to be the main man in attack. But Postecoglou has only rarely put both players on the pitch at the same time, preferring to go with one or the other, and it's the former VVV-Venlo forward who has most often occupied the supporting role behind Kyogo.

Postecoglou has said he is "comfortable" with comings and goings in the transfer market, but he will be less keen on how this is beginning to play out in public. The Celtic ship has been harmonious one in recent months and it's little wonder why, given their dominant position atop the Premiership table. The last thing the manager will want, therefore, is a sideshow to distract from positivity on the pitch.

So, what happens now? If Giakoumakis is actually just angling for the pay rise he feels he deserves, the story emerging probably does not help his case. If Celtic were to acquiesce to his demands now, it would be painted as the club performing a climbdown and a display of player power they might worry could give others similar ideas. Giakoumakis may, of course, back down, but that does not feel likely at this point given the indication these revelations have come from the player's side. All that's left then, it seems, is to shake hands and say goodbye.

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