OPINION
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell must abandon contract talks with forward Leigh Griffiths until he proves that his best days are in front of him.
The 27-year-old forward confirmed on Friday, via an interview with the Daily Record, that he was in the early stages of talks with the Hoops about getting a new contract.
Griffiths is loved at Parkhead, after scoring 97 goals in 178 appearances, since arriving at the club from Wolves in 2014.
However injury problems and the existence of Moussa Dembele at the club, mean that the clinical forward isn’t a guaranteed member of Brendan Rodger’s first-team plans.
In fact the 27-year-old forward recently revealed to the Scottish Sun that a previously undetected hip issue has caused the forward to not even be at full fitness in recent seasons.
Griffiths went on to explain to the national newspaper that he “wasn’t getting a full range of movement”, but after having his hips “released” he was now aiming to get back to his best.
The centre-forward has only played 45 minutes of action since getting his hip problem solved, and it’s impossible to tell whether the forward is right about being able to get back into top shape.
With that said there’s no reason for the Hoops to be currently in contract talks with the forward, until he proves his worth at the club, as he still has two-years left on his current deal.
Griffiths may have scored 12 goals in 34 outings this season, but Rodgers’ side will need him to do more next season as they have to start progressing as a club.
The 27-year-old may be able to help the club lift domestic honours on a regular basis, however everyone knows it’s clearly time that the club improve in European tournaments.
The Hoops forward would be no help to that aim, as he’s just about able to be fit enough to help the club in their much easier domestic campaign.
Therefore Lawwell should abandon contract talks with Griffiths until he proves that he’s not a club relic with his best days behind him.