According to a recent report by the Daily Record, Celtic star Ryan Christie has admitted that he is currently in no rush to extend his Celtic contract, and that he is happy being a Parkhead player. The report claims that manager Neil Lennon is keen to offer him a new deal, but that Christie didn’t feel the need to sign an extension right now. He is currently contracted to the club until 2022, which means that there’s no reason for Celtic fans to be too worried about his potential departure from the club. However, the likes of Nice, Newcastle United and Burnley are all said to be keeping tabs on the attacker, as per The Scottish Sun.
Although it has been clarified that Ryan Christie is in no rush to sign a new Celtic contract, whether or not this situation changes in the season to come remains to be seen. Speaking on the matter, Christie said, “I’ve spoken to the manager a few times. With everything going on, I didn’t think it was the right time to go into it over the summer. It’s a bit different now but I’ve still got plenty of time on my contract. Before this one, I was down to five months to go before we actually signed a new deal, so there’s plenty of time for that to resolve itself. For a club to offer you a contract you must be doing something right.”
What Is Celtic’s Situation In The Attacking Areas?
Neil Lennon has been seen mixing things up in terms of formations and elevens since the start of the season, but Ryan Christie is one of the players who has been a starter more often than not. Not only does the speedster add a bit of finesse and panache to the side, but he also tends to chip in with goals and assists as well. Versatile enough to operate across a variety of positions, Christie’s contributions to the Celtic team this season cannot be underplayed. Despite the flurry of striking options, the Hoops don’t have too many choices in the rest of the attacking positions.
The wide areas are likely to be a cause for concern with Mohamed Elyounoussi and James Forrest the only out-and-out wingers in Neil Lennon’s roster. Christie is one of the players who has been used in that wide role when required, but since Lennon switched to a back three, he has been deployed in midfield at times, and even as the second striker on occasion. Having a player who offers this level of utility would be any manager’s dream, and his services have been important to them this season as well. His nine appearances in the league so far have yielded five assists as well as two goals.
What Makes Christie Such An Important Part Of This Celtic Team?
The 25-year-old has been a member of the Celtic books for well over five years now, and the connection that he shares with the club really is apparent to see. A willing runner with the ball at his feet, the Scot offers an excellent degree of composure and collectedness when in possession. Not only does Christie offer an extremely keen eye for a pass, but his ability to get past defenders and make things in the final third are crucial to the Celts’ play as well. The former Aberdeen loanee boasts an extremely strong passing range, but he is also one of the cleanest strikers of the ball in the Premiership.
Ryan Christie Is In No Rush To Sign A New Celtic Contract: Should Lennon Keep Him?
For all the brilliant players that Celtic have brought in over the last couple of seasons, it must be conceded that Christie remains their biggest attacking threat from the midfield. The likes of James Forrest, Mohamed Elyounoussi and Olivier Ntcham have all been rather underwhelming since the start of the campaign. Christie though, has stepped up to the plate on various important occasions. With Neil Lennon’s side hunting for their tenth consecutive league title, keeping Christie beyond the current season by tying him down to a long-term deal should be treated with the utmost importance.
