Ryan Christie will be offered a new 12 month contract extension by the club, according to the Express.
The midfielder has been on loan at Aberdeen for the last 14 months, but it seems Brendan has been impressed with the player`s displays for the Dons. The 23 year old`s current deal expires in 2019, and it appears there is interest from English clubs.
Fans on Twitter were supportive of the decision to offer Ryan a new deal for the most part:
Let Armstrong go, he showed he’s not interested and wants a payday in England’s backwaters, great player, but Christie would walk over hot coals for Celtic
? Alastair Baird (@Seagoon62) 22 March 2018
Good luck to him but I don`t think he`s good enough to take us forward…
? Wolfman Glasgow (@wolfman_glasgow) 22 March 2018
Definitely a prudent move by Celtic to offer Christie a new deal. He’ll make a capable understudy to Tam Rogic when Armstrong fucks off in the summer.
? Plumsaucesaurus (@BawClaw) 22 March 2018
Good to hear that we are talking to Ryan Christie about a new contract, that lad has something about him, sure he can make it at Celtic.
? Celtic_Bhoy1888 (@bhoy1888_celtic) 22 March 2018
Find it weird how often I read Celtic fans looking for us to sign McGinn when we have Christie to bring back
Personally I rate Christie more
? FaithfulThru&Thru (@BhoyEddie2) 15 March 2018
Deserves his shot .. talented Bhoy
? Bear (@burns_bear13) 4 March 2018
Seeing Scott Allan Ryan Christie doing a great job for Hibs and the sheep. Surely these lads could do a job for us? They`re energy, skill and positivity would be a definite plus for us IMO.
? GMac (@garymca66) 9 March 2018
I`ve just read there that Ryan Christie only has one yr left on his contact at the end of this season! WTF ??@CelticFC get this bhoy in and signed up ASAP Brendan don`t loose this one he is one for the future and in fact he can play right now Peter Lawwell do what needs done ok
? Craig cairns (@Craigcairns11) 7 March 2018
He deserves a chance imo especially with Roberts away in the summer.
? Wolfe Of Parkhead (@ParkheadWolfe) 4 March 2018
I think he`ll be a replacement for Stuart Armstrong who I think will be away in the summer, PR7 is here for 10 in a row
? Griff (@MildooWolf) 4 March 2018
Verdict:
The attacking midfielder has been in good form this season with seven goals and 13 assists from 35 games in all competitions. I think he merits another chance by the club, especially if Stuart Armstrong doesn`t sign a new deal in the summer.
He has shown his capabilities whilst out on loan, and although he will have a lot of competition for places at Celtic Park, he should be offered the opportunity to impress in pre-season.
Of course, a new deal could be just an insurance policy to get a better transfer fee for the player, but Brendan did say at the start of this month that the plan will be to reintegrate him into the squad in the summer so I am sure that will happen.