Having been the boo boy of Celtic’s squad for the last nine months, Ryan Christie looked set for an exit from Celtic to the riches of the English Premier League.
Burnley, Norwich and Crystal Palace had all been linked with the man who really failed to fire on any form of cylinders last term, registering just a measly five goals in 34 league games for Neil Lennon and John Kennedy.
Ange Postecoglou’s attacking intent has started to bring the best out of the midfielder, although with Liel Abada, Furuhashi, David Turnbull et al all vying for spots, Christie has to keep up his form.
It remains to be seen where Christie’s future will lie; having been bought from Highland club Inverness Caley Thistle in 2015, he forced his way into the Celtic team in 2018 – yet after just two years of incredible performances, his contract will run out in January of this year – leaving clubs in foreign leagues free to discuss a pre-contract with the playmaker.
However, his recent performances have given Celtic fans hope that he can stay – no performance more so than the one he produced over the weekend, in which he helped new signing Kyogo Furuhashi bag a hat-trick on his first start at Paradise.
Ange Postecoglou has made it no secret that he admires Christie – with the Aussie claiming he has already asked Christie to stay, according to Lancs Live.
I don’t think I need to twist his arm. I’ve already said that if this doesn’t convince him, I don’t think anything can. I think they are more questions for Ryan than me.
I’d love to have him as part of the club. All I can do is treat people as I have seen them, and he has been fantastic from the moment I’ve come into the place.
With the way he’s training and the way he’s playing his football, he’s a fantastic footballer and he suits the way I want to play. But I’m not the master of his future, that’s in his hands. He was brilliant. He’s been good in every game to be fair.
Ange knows a good attacking talent when he sees one – which is why alongside new boys Furuhashi and Abada, Celtic are starting to produce football capable of being on end-of-season highlight reels, but on a weekly basis.
His performances have been excellent, he’s training well and he’s enjoying his football. I played him on the left today, but we know he is versatile and can play elsewhere in the team as well. He got his assists today and I thought he was a key part of what we were doing.
Christie is a wonderful player who’s form like a host of players under Lennon took a nosedive in confidence