OPINION
Celtic defender Mikael Lustig is surely nearing an exit from the club after the latest report on his future.
According to Expressen, Swedish side AIK have become the latest club to express an interest in signing the 32-year-old, who made 44 appearances but is out of contract at Parkhead this summer.
A report last month stated that fellow Swedes Malmo had made an offer for the 32-year-old [The Scottish Sun], who made 44 appearances last term but is out of contract at Parkhead this summer.
Expressen now claim, however, that AIK – who finished two places below title-winners Malmo in the Allsvenskan – have shown interest in bringing Lustig back to his homeland.
Following the report that Malmo had offered Lustig a contract, AIK have now become the second club to have reportedly expressed an interest in Malmo.
One thing is for sure: the player is not short of interest and the clubs now seem to be lining up in a queue, hopeful of taking the 32-year-old back to his home country.
It is looking every more likely that Lustig will leave upon the expiration of his contract at the end of June, since there have been no rumours from Celtic suggesting that the player could be kept on.
In the other direction, there has been talk of a move for Sheffield United’s George Baldock, but it remains to be seen if that deal will actually progress.
Either way, Lustig has not had the greatest of seasons and it would not be a great surprise to see him go. If he does depart, he should get a proper send-off from the Celtic fans after being around the side for not only the treble treble, but the past eight Premiership title wins.
But for now, it looks almost like a formality that Lustig will leave, with two clubs said to have the defender in his sights. As for a potential Parkhead stay, there have been no such rumours whatsoever, and that cannot be good for Celtic fans who want him to stay.
European top-four side join hunt for 44-app Celtic man destined for exit door – report