Dedryck Boyata has admitted that he is in no rush to sign a new contract with Celtic.
The defender’s current deal runs until June 2019 with the next few months crucial to his future in Scotland.
Ronny Deila signed Boyata from Manchester City in 2015 but it was only in the second half of last season that the Belgian defender made an impact in the side becoming Brendan Rodgers’ first choice centre-half.
Staying long term with Celtic was never likely to be an option for the 27-year-old who was very non-committal as he discussed his future while on international duty with Belgium.
Asked about a new contract with Celtic The Sun reports the defender saying: “I’m not in a rush. Of course, being there, it’s good but I don’t know what is going to happen in the future.
“It doesn’t really depend on them or even me, we will just see what happens.
“At the moment, we are still talking about it. For the moment I am a Celtic player and I love Celtic.
“It’s a great team, I love to be there. Whatever happens next, we will see but for the moment I cannot really say anything about it.”
Between the lines it looks like Boyata is employing that favourite footballing term of ‘keeping his options’ open.
Celtic have also kept their options open by signing Jack Hendry and Marvin Compper during the January transfer window as well as seeing Kris Ajer emerge into the team.
Last year talks about Stuart Armstrong’s contract dragged through the summer into the new season with Brendan Rodgers determined not to all that scenario to be repeated.