Celtic have begun talks with Ryan Christie about extending his existing contract, according to the Daily Express.
The newspaper claim that Brendan Rodgers has offered the 23-year-old a 12-month extension to his current deal and told him he wants him to be pushing for a place in the first-team next season.
The Daily Express report that the Hoops are aware that there is strong interest in Christie from Aberdeen as well as there being interest in him from clubs down south.
The 23-year-old midfielder has spent this season on loan at Aberdeen, and has registered a hugely impressive 13 assists in 37 appearances during this campaign.
It is believed that Dons manager Derek McInnes tried to unsuccessfully buy Christie last summer and would try again if he is deemed surplus to requirements by Rodgers in pre-season.
The midfielder’s impressive form for Aberdeen saw him win his first cap for Scotland in November as well as be included in Alex McLeish’s latest Scotland squad.
OPINION
It’s quick thinking on Celtic’s part to extend Christie current contract, so it expires in 2020 instead of 2019. This small change will give them all the power regarding his future. If the Hoops decide to sell the midfielder in the summer, as he could fail to impress Rodgers in pre-season, then they can demand a much higher fee for the 23-year-old. It also helps the club if the talented midfielder wows the Hoops boss with his abilities in the summer, as it guarantees his future is with them for the foreseeable future, despite interest from others. Christie will hopefully have a bright future at Celtic as the impressive midfielder has proven himself to be more than capable of playing in Scotland’s top-flight this season.