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Celtic couldn't turn down reported PL big money offer for mainstay as contract deadline loomed
COMMENT
The Celtic team which clinched two back to back to domestic domestic trebles looks set to suffer it’s first real departure with the news that Stuart Armstrong is set to join Premier League side Southampton.
BBC Sport reports that the clubs have agreed a deal worth £7million for the 26-year-old, who has spent three and a half seasons with the Scottish champions.
Whilst some fans might be annoyed that the Hoops agreed to sell a player who has been a mainstay of the side for the last few seasons – he made 41 appearances last season, for example – the Hoops really had no choice but to sell him this summer.
Brendan Rodgers and Peter Lawwell couldn’t afford a repeat of last summer, when Armstrong signed what turned out to be only in essence a one year contract extension with the club, and with his contract running out in less than a year’s time, they had to accept the best available offer that they could.
£7million is very good money for a player whose deal runs out in a year’s time, and the Bhoys are doing the right thing in taking the money at this moment in time.
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There is no doubt that Armstrong’s sublime runs from midfield will be missed, and his capacity for big goals helped him stand-out for the Hoops, but Lawwell and Rodgers were left with little option but to move Armstrong on as soon as the offers started rolling in.
In other Celtic news, Chris Sutton wants the Hoops to offer this player a new deal
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