Journalist Derek McGregor has recently discussed the possibility of Ryan Christie leaving Celtic on a free transfer.
It recently emerged that instead of Christie’s contract running out in the summer of 2022, the Scotsman’s Parkhead deal runs out in January 2022. McGregor was talking about this update on the latest episode of the Celtic Huddle podcast and he gave his views about the midfielder.
McGregor believes that the latest reports about the Scotsman are indeed stunning and what could probably happen in Christie’s situation is that the player will sign a pre-contract agreement with another side and both clubs will arrive at a compromise figure in the deal.
Will Christie leave on a free transfer?
Yes
No
It has been stated that Christie could be free to talk to clubs from the summer transfer window onwards and the fact that he will play in the Euros will make sure that he’ll be on the market at the right time.
McGregor talked about the midfielder and said (36:15): “We were all quite stunned when it emerged over the weekend that in actual fact, his contract runs out in January. I’m amazed that Celtic certainly would allow a top player [or] most players to have a contract that would expire halfway through a season. Why that was allowed to happen? I don’t know if it was a condition of Ryan signing his last contract extension but regardless, it is what it is.
“And I think come the start of July, he will be able to speak to clubs and sign a pre-contract. I don’t think he’d leave Celtic for nothing. What would probably happen as generally can be the case is the player will sign a pre-contract and very soon after that, the clubs will agree a compromise figure.
“Now clearly that scenario means that Celtic, considering what they generally like to receive for a player of Christie’s standing, are going to get nowhere near what they like. They’d have to accept a compromise fee or else he does go for nothing. But it’s an extraordinary situation.”
TIF Thoughts on Ryan Christie’s future…
If the report about Christie’s contract is indeed true, then Celtic could lose a valuable asset for free when they were initially expecting to perhaps sell him for a decent fee in the summer, when it was believed that his deal ran out next summer.
Christie is currently valued at £8.10 million and he has been regularly amongst the goals over the last couple of seasons. His value has risen regularly since he first arrived, which shows that he has been an important player for the club.
So it will be a blow for Celtic to only earn a minimal fee from his sale, but they should try their best to make the most out of a compromise fee.
In other news: ‘There have been no leaks’ – Hugh Keevins surprised by ‘astonishing’ Celtic situation