Lustig close to signing new deal
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Brendan Rodgers is confident of getting Mikael Lustig signed up onto a new contract.
The defender joined Celtic five years ago from Rosenborg and is out of contract at the end of the season.
Doubts about his fitness seem to have been dismissed with the Swede the first pick at right back as well as regularly moving in to central defence to step in for Jozo Simunovic.
Lustig turned 30 last month but with a generally youthful squad Rodgers appreciates having experience to call on with a defender who has been over the course domestically and in Europe.
“I believe there’s progress on that,” the Celtic boss told The Sun about contract talks. “I met with Peter Lawwell before I came away and I believe that one is not too far away.
“Mikael gives his all and is up for every game and just as importantly every training session.
“He lives his life well and has good focus now he’s been at Celtic for a few years. The deal has to be right for him and the club, but I’d be hopeful we could organise that.
Lustig started 17 out of Celtic’s 20 SPFL fixtures and also 11 of the 12 European ties.
The arrival of Cristian Gamboa has added real competition at right back and appears to have brought at improvement to Lustig’s game.
After his initial Celtic deal he signed a three year contract in 2014 shortly after Ronny Deila took over from Neil Lennon.