Mikael Lustig’s contract is up at the end of the season, and he’s had his say on the issue himself.
Opening up today, the Swede stated that his preference would be to stay at Parkhead beyond the summer. Therefore, that would mean that the club offer him a new contract to extend his stay in Glasgow.
Speaking to Expressen, Lustig opened up on his situation and claimed that the ball was now in the club’s court.
“I have a contract with Celtic and hope to extend here.
“The ball lies with them. If they want me to continue, I will stay here.
“The important thing is that it should be good for the family and also for football.”
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Keeping Lustig beyond the summer makes absolutely no sense
Sometimes it just feels like the end of an era. For Lustig and Celtic’s association with each other, that has to be the case this summer.
Celtic want to upgrade on him this January. The truth is that the fans are now demanding it, and it almost feels as though Celtic have been forced into looking at the issue by their supporters.
But once they do that, there’s no point in keeping Lustig around.
Another one or two-year extension would mean one of two things. Firstly it could mean that Lustig is second choice and therefore blocking the potential progress of Anthony Ralston.
Then there’s the other option that he’s third-choice and the club therefore have three right-backs, and paying a huge wage to a player not likely to get another game.
Lustig’s six-year period at Parkhead simply must come to an end at the end of the campaign. The player himself wouldn’t be satisfied being anything other than first-choice, and that’s an option Celtic now can’t take.
Supporters have claimed for months now that he’s the weak link at Celtic. Why, then, would you want to keep that weak-link around?
Time is up and has been for a while. A new deal for Lustig simply can’t go ahead.