Paddy Kenny has predicted that Celtic will look to replace Ryan Christie imminently should the 26-year-old look to quit Parkhead this summer.
The Lowdown: Ryan Christie saga refuses to die down
In a season of change across the board for the Bhoys, new manager Ange Postecoglou will be under no illusions that further exits could still follow between now and the end of the summer transfer window.
One saga which just refuses to die down is that of Christie, who is under contract in Glasgow until January [Transfermarkt].
Celtic were reported to have opened talks with the Inverness native over a new deal, but no such terms have been offered to the player as of yet [The Scottish Sun].
The Latest: Kenny urges Celtic to sign a suitable Christie replacement
In an exclusive interview with Football Insider, Kenny was adamant that the Celts should move to sign a replacement should the Scotland international move on this summer, stating: “I think everyone wants to know where they stand.”
He added: “If he wants to leave then he’ll want that to go through quickly, and likewise with Celtic. It doesn’t do anyone any good to keep it up in the air.
“They are losing a good player and they are gonna have to replace him. If he does move on, you’d expect them to get one in as soon as possible.
“So they need to get that sorted one way or another so everybody can move forward and get on with their football.”
The Verdict: Celtic must solve Christie contract wrangle soon
Correctly identifying the need for the situation to be resolved, Kenny builds a compelling case for Celtic to be proactive rather than reactive to the Christie situation. Losing the 26-year-old would be a big blow to the Celtic Park hierarchy, but they should have contingencies on hand if the worst case scenario unfolds.
Starting off this season in sparkling form, Christie has registered four goal contributions in six appearances so far, with one goal and three assists to his name [Transfermarkt]. Furthermore, his average rate of three shots per match shows his willingness to regularly involve himself in attacking play [WhoScored].
In short, Celtic should do everything in their power to keep Christie at the club due to his wide range of qualities.
In other news, Celtic are closing in on one of Ireland’s brightest talents. Read all about it here.
