Peter Lawwell opens Celtic talks over forward deal, billionaire-owned club interested – report
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell has opened talks with Leigh Griffiths’ agent over a new deal, according to a report.
The Daily Mail claims that after attracting attention in the January transfer window, Griffiths, 27, has instructed his representatives to get him a new deal at Parkhead despite there still being three years left on his current agreement.
It is understood that West Brom, Swansea and MLS club Sporting Kansas were all interested in Griffiths earlier this year.
Kansas are owned by billionaire Neal Patterson, who is worth $1.5billion according to Forbes.
The Scotland international has only recently returned from injury for Celtic and has made 34 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring 12 goals in the process.
The ex-Wolves and Hibernian forward has confirmed that talks are taking place behind the scenes and has suggested he has no intention of leaving Glasgow.
“My representatives are working behind the scenes to try and get me a new deal,” said the 27-year-old, as quoted by the Mail.
“I have another two and a half years here, but why would you want to go anywhere else?
“You are playing at a top club with a top manager in front of 50,000 or 60,000 every week.
“There’s no reason to go anywhere. You have Champions League football every season.”
Football Insider verdict
Celtic may be losing Moussa Dembele and Odsonne Edouard in the summer so it is important that Griffiths stays because there could be an overhaul of Brendan Rodgers’ striker options. Edouard’s loan deal ends and he is likely to return to Paris Saint-Germain while Dembele has been widely linked with leaving Parkhead. Griffiths has also had speculation swirl around his future having dropped down the pecking order, but there’s little chance he would go if Dembele and Edouard do.
In other Celtic news, the Hoops must seal an ambitious summer swoop for this £20,000-a-week Premier League defender who could quit his club.
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