Celtic are reportedly preparing to offer a significant wage increase to one of their key players in a bid to secure his commitment with a new contract.
Celtic’s European Campaign Revival:
After a tough 7-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in their second Champions League match, Celtic’s chances of progressing to the knockout stages seemed slim. However, the Scottish champions have turned things around impressively. They earned a hard-fought draw against Europa League champions Atalanta, followed by a memorable 3-1 victory over RB Leipzig at Celtic Park, with goals from Nicolas Kuhn and Reo Hatate. The win brought Celtic to seven points after four games, placing them in one of the qualification spots for the knockout rounds.
With four crucial games remaining against Club Brugge, Dinamo Zagreb, Young Boys, and Aston Villa, Celtic will likely need three wins to secure automatic qualification to the knockout stages, or at least two to make it into the qualification round.
Domestically, Celtic are yet to lose a match this season and remain joint top of the Scottish Premiership alongside Aberdeen. After a 2-2 draw with Aberdeen last month, Celtic responded with a dominant 6-0 victory in the Scottish League Cup, continuing their strong domestic form.
Contract Breakthrough for Alistair Johnston:
In more positive news, reports suggest that Celtic have made significant progress in contract talks with defender Alistair Johnston, who is poised to receive a substantial pay rise. The 26-year-old, who was described as “spectacular” by Pat Nevin following Celtic’s win over RB Leipzig, has been a key figure in Brendan Rodgers’ team since his January 2023 move from Montreal. Although Johnston is already under contract until 2027, his strong performances have earned him a new deal to reflect his importance to the squad and to ward off potential interest from clubs abroad.
According to the *Daily Record*, Celtic and Johnston are “close to agreeing a new contract,” which will not only see an increase in salary but also extend the length of his stay at the club. Talks have reportedly progressed well, with Johnston’s agent flying to Scotland to finalize the agreement.
Greg Taylor’s Contract Situation:
On the flip side, there is less positive news regarding the future of fellow defender Greg Taylor, whose current contract is set to expire at the end of the season. Brendan Rodgers had previously described extending Taylor’s contract as a “priority,” but reports suggest that no agreement has been reached yet. Taylor’s contract situation will likely become Celtic’s next focus as they aim to secure the Scotland international’s future at the club.
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