Celtic tipped to sell Christie and sign new senior star after Southampton reported news
Noel Whelan has urged Celtic to cash in on Ryan Christie and reinvest the money before next week’s transfer deadline.
The former Coventry striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the Hoops could not afford to lose the attacking midfielder on a free at the end of his contract.
The Scottish Sun reported on Saturday (21st August) that Southampton and Burnley are keeping tabs on the midfielder’s situation.
The 26-year-old’s contract at Celtic runs out in January, rather than next summer.
Whelan suggested the Bhoys should try and accelerate a move for Christie in order to reinvest any potential transfer fee this summer.
“I think we’ll be seeing him in the Premier League,” he told Football Insider‘s Dylan Childs.
“I think any money that comes in with only six months left on the contract is a bonus.
“For Celtic, I just think it’s a matter of getting whatever they can right now.
“Get him off the books if he isn’t going to sign another contract. Get a fee for him and maybe use that to pay another player’s wages who can come in and replace him.
“They’ve been in the market for a centre-half and a left-back for a while now at Celtic, and this money could go a long way towards getting that done.”
Christie made the switch to Parkhead in 2015.
The ex-Inverness midfielder has scored 41 goals and registered 44 assists in 148 games across all competitions during his time with the Hoops.
He has already notched one goal and three assists in seven appearances so far this term.
In other news, this pundit has made a “huge” claim on the race for the Scottish Premiership title.