Sviatchenko on his way
Britain Football Soccer - Aberdeen v Celtic - Scottish League Cup Final - Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland - 27/11/16 Celtic's Erik Sviatchenko celebrates winning the final Reuters / Russell Cheyne Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
Erik Sviatchenko is looking forward to joining an attractive club this season.
The out of favour Celtic defender is quoted in The Sun discussing his future after being told to find a new club by Brendan Rodgers.
Sviatchenko has been fit to play since November but despite Celtic’s heavy fixture schedule and defensive problems he hasn’t been considered for selection.
“The manager has told me to find a new club,” he told The Sun. “There have been clubs from several leagues who have contacted my agent. These are attractive clubs, so I’m looking forward to my future with optimism.
“My transfer value, of course, falls the less I play, but my qualities as a player don’t get worse – on the contrary.
“I feel I’ve developed a lot and I’m a far better player now than when I came to Scottish football. I have been happy with my stay in Celtic and Scotland, but I’m also pleased to be able to go to another club.
“I need to play regularly because I want to still have a chance of playing at the World Cup Finals in Russia.
“I accept it’s a small chance, but it can’t be ruled out that some of the established national team defenders get injured.”
Celtic paid Midtjylland £1.5m two years ago and he quickly made an impact on Ronny Deilla’s side.
That continued under Brendan Rodgers in the first half of last season but after returning from the winter training trip to Dubai Dedryck Boyata emerged as the first choice central defender.
There was speculation that the defender could be on the move last January but now it seems simply a matter of time before the 26-year-old moves on after two eventful years in Glasgow.