‘We’ll sit down’: Postecoglou shares plans to discuss Celtic star’s future

Add as preferred source on Google

Celtic will sit down and speak with Karamoko Dembele over a new contract in due course, but Ange Postecoglou says any new deal will depend on where the winger ‘sees his future’, via quotes by The Scottish Sun.

Dembele is set to be out of contract this May, but the Hoops will not rush into negotiating new terms. Instead, Postecoglou and the Bhoys will only address his Parkhead future when they feel the time is appropriate.

Celtic have rarely seen what progress the 19-year-old has made in his development so far this season due to injury. Dembele fractured his ankle last summer and only made his first appearance of the term Wednesday.

Postecoglou introduced Dembele as an 84th-minute substitute at home to St Mirren with Celtic leading 2-0. He felt the midweek meeting was time to blood the Englishman into his plans after three unused substitute outings.

Dembele returned to the Hoops squad for the first time this season in all competitions for their 3-1 Europa Conference League defeat to Bodo/Glimt. He also then failed to get off the bench against Dundee or Hibernian.

Postecoglou says new Celtic contract depends on where Dembele ‘sees his future’

Postecoglou accepts Dembele is still taking ‘tentative steps’ back from injury. So, the Celtic boss wants the forward to continue featuring in the B-Team for now, having missed a lot of games already this season.

“He’s still a long way off being able to be a meaningful contributor because he’s just missed so much football,” Postecoglou said. “The idea is we try and get him some more game time with the B-Team and build his fitness up.”

Postecoglou had hoped to spend more time nurturing Dembele’s potential during his first season in charge of Celtic. Now, the Bhoys boss must also weigh up the youngster’s future with his contract expiring this summer.

“He’s one I was looking forward to working with,” Postecoglou added. “[His contract will] depend on Karamoko himself and where he sees his future.

“We’ll sit down at the appropriate time for him and map out what’s best for him, what he thinks is best for him, and we’ll come to a decision.”

Dembele’s six-minutes against St Mirren on Wednesday took his Celtic senior career tally to just 118 over nine games. Postecoglou will likely now want to see the winger play regularly in order to earn himself a new contract.