Celtic fans are starting to get nervous over the future of Stuart Armstrong.
With one year left on his contract the clock is ticking down on his hoops deal with other clubs entitled to sign him up on a pre-contractual agreement from January 1.
Brendan Rodgers has expertly managed contract matters since taking charge of the club but this one seems to be taking longer than most to resolve.
Every Premier League club will be aware of the midfielder with Southampton the latest club to be linked with Armstrong.
I like Stuart Armstrong but if he doesn’t want to sign a deal better getting him sold and a replacement in than letting him go for free
— Robert Paterson? (@madbhoab) July 3, 2017
#SaintsFC allegedly planning a bid for Celtic’s Stuart Armstrong & we have the cheek to moan about L’pool always coming in for our players
— Rob Price (@SaintRobinho86) July 3, 2017
Here, all the papers saying @StuArmstrong16 not signing a new deal and will be off after #CL qualification????. #Celtic get him signed up ????????????????
— Ruri Ando (@BhoyHero) July 4, 2017
Stuart Armstrong would be a good signing, I think. Reminds me of Steven Davis but with age on his side and an eye for goal. #SaintsFC
— Luke Osman (@LukeOsmanRS) July 4, 2017
Having brought Fraser Forster, Virgil van Dijk and Victor Wanyama from the hoops there’s no doubting the pedigree that Armstrong comes with.
Rodgers’ squad is well covered for midfielders but in any first choice XI there’s no doubt that Armstrong would feature, either as the attacher behind the lone striker or anchoring midfield alongside Scott Brown.
As one of the lowest paid players in the squad, after signing from Dundee United in 2015, Armstrong and his agent will know the going rate of his team-mates and what he could expect to be offered elsewhere.
While Brendan Rodgers looks to add one influential player to his existing squad retaining Armstrong must be a priority even if it’s only to put a further 12 months into his current deal.