James Forrest and Scott Bain sign long-term Celtic deals: Ryan Christie must be next

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Celtic have recently moved to tie two players down to long-term contracts.

On Wednesday, James Forrest signed a four-year deal and celebrated by scoring a goal. Then, on Thursday, Scott Bain also penned a four-year contract extension.

It is clearly that time of year when Celtic look to get contracts sorted. And Ryan Christie must be the next player rewarded with a long-term deal.

Remarkable turnaround

At the start of last season, Christie’s future at Celtic looked bleak. His profitable loan spell at Aberdeen did not look like it would be enough to save his career in Glasgow.

But he was given his chance and he seized it with both hands. Just over a year on and the Scotland international is one of the first names on the teamsheet. His rise in the past 12 months has been nothing short of remarkable.

Not for sale

Celtic do not want to sell their prized assets and Christie is one of the top players. Inevitably, he will attract interest from other clubs, including Premier League sides.

Currently, the 24-year-old has a contract until 2022. Celtic need to extend that and give him a higher wage to fend off suitors. This would also convince Christie to commit his long-term future to Parkhead.

Christie can reach new level

There is a feeling that Celtic fans still haven’t seen the best of Christie. This season, the silky midfielder has 12 goals and six assists in 21 games this season, proving why he is such a key player.

Christie now has 25 goals and 16 assists in 72 Celtic matches. This tally is just going to keep rising. As he enters his prime, Christie could continue to get better and reach a higher level.