Celtic need to solve the Ryan Christie issue quickly

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Celtic attacker Ryan Christie will need to sit down with the club and sort out his contract nonsense ahead of the competitive stuff beginning.

Christie is with Ange Postecoglou’s first-team squad in Wales. This comes after competing at Euro 2020. Ryan would make his first appearance in Saturday’s 2-1 win against Charlton, playing the entire second 45.

However, it’s come after a couple of months of ominous transfer speculation. The like of Burnley, Norwich, Crystal Palace, and Nice have all been linked with potential moves for the playmaker [Daily Record].

Only last week the Daily Mail claimed that Burnley were set to make the first move for Christie [08/07, Euros Verdict pullout, p11].

And what’s more, there’s absolutely nothing Celtic can do about any of it. Christie’s contract expiring in January means that he could effectively agree to jump ship on a pre-contract at anytime.

That’s what makes this different to if he had a year remaining on his current deal. At least then Celtic would know they have until January to thrash out new terms.

It’s time to find out if Ryan Christie wants to be part of Celtic revolution

Christie didn’t prove valuable enough last season for Celtic fans to be on their knees begging him to stay. However, if he could turn his form around under Ange Postecoglou, we know how much of an asset he could be.

However, there’s only one way to sort this out. Christie needs to be sat at a table with the manager to find out where his head is. To find out whether he wants to be a part of what Postecoglou is trying to build.

The manager doesn’t want players who aren’t committed. So how could you describe Christie as such when he appears in no rush to extend his terms?

If Christie tells the manager he’s committed to the project, it must be backed up with a new contract. If he isn’t? Don’t be playing him in pre-season and instead give his spot to someone who wants to be here.

That’s where we’re at just now. There’s no clear sign that he sees his long-term future at Celtic Park. And with him available to leave mid-season for nothing, we don’t even have the security of keeping him for the full campaign.

It’s time for a proper discussion on where his head is at. We don’t need this dragging into the competitive stuff.

In other news: THE goalkeeping situation is hotting up at Celtic ahead of Midtjylland