According to a recent report by the Daily Record, Celtic attacker Ryan Christie will sit down with the club’s chiefs to negotiate a potential new long-term contract at Parkhead. The report suggests that Neil Lennon is eager to get a start to discussions to ensure that the Scot stays at Celtic Park for the long run. Although it has been said that the midfielder’s current tenure at the club extends until the summer of 2022, Lennon is reportedly keen on ensuring that there are no suitors for his signature, by offering the player a considerable wage hike.
While the report has clarified that Neil Lennon is keen on offering Ryan Christie a Celtic extension, Noel Whelan has given Football Insider his nod of approval too. Speaking on the matter, Whelan said, “He is fantastic. Christie has everything you would like from a wide player. He can create, he can score and has pace to burn. A player that any manager would want in his team. He also knows the club very well. Celtic have appreciated what he has done and rightly so he is rewarded with a new contract. He is still a good age. You do not want to let him go. He will be there for another two, three seasons with his best years still to come.”
What Does Ryan Christie Add To This Celtic Team?
The Scot is an attacking-midfielder by position but is capable of being deployed on either of the flanks if required. Christie offers an extremely well-balanced skill-set in the attack, as there aren’t too many aspects of the game in which he struggles. An adept ball-carrier, the 25-year-old can pick out some sensational passes from outside the box, while his vision in the final third of the pitch is second to none in this Celtic squad. The attacker offers a good presence in and around the opposition territory as well.
One of the most significant points of attraction for Celtic fans is the fact that Christie is capable of scoring the odd unexpected goal from a distance. The speedster offers a certain degree of unpredictability in the final third, which has come to be Celtic’s saviour at multiple points throughout the season.
The Scot is an excellent crosser of the ball from wide areas, while he also tends to position himself effectively when deployed in the number ten role. His combination play with Odsonne Edouard and Callum McGregor has been essential to the success that the Hoops have enjoyed this term.
How Has Ryan Christie’s Season At Celtic Gone?
Having arrived from Inverness in the summer of 2015, the youngster was given his debut by the Celts during the 16/17 campaign but was soon shipped out to Aberdeen to gain more experience. Having returned a more mature player, Christie has gone on to become a regular feature of this Celtic team over the last two seasons. While he managed a decent enough tally of nine goals last time out, this term saw him churn out an even more impressive 11 goals and 11 assists from his 24 Premiership outings. It’s likely that Lennon’s side wouldn’t have been as successful as they were this season if it wasn’t for Christie’s timely contributions.
Neil Lennon Is Keen On Offering Ryan Christie A Celtic Extension: Smart Move By The Hoops?
The Celts are going into the upcoming Premiership campaign in the hunt for their unprecedented tenth straight league title, and keeping the key names from last season will be right at the top of Lennon’s to-do-list for the summer.
Christie adds some much-needed enthusiasm and creativity in the final third of the pitch and losing his services could have a dire impact on the Hoops’ general style of play itself. At 25-years-old, Christie probably still has the best years of his career ahead of him, and if the last campaign is anything to go by, then things are only going to get better from here for the Scot.
