Jozo Simunovic is out of contract at the end of this season.
It had been assumed that the defender was under contract until the end of next season but it has emerged that the club hold a 12 month option on his deal.
Strangely, in September 2021, the Celtic website announced:
Simunovic, who signed from Dinamo Zagreb in 2015, has penned a new four-year deal until at least the summer of 2021.
Celtic paid a fee reportedly around £4m to Dinamo Zagreb for the defender in 2015 shortly after Virgil van Dijk was sold to Southampton.
Almost from the beginning he has been hampered by injury, yesterday’s appearance against Ross County was just his 66th game in the SPFL.
Kris Ajer and Chris Jullien are Neil Lennon’s first choice central defenders but beyond that the options are Hatem Abd Elhamed and Nir Bitton who are both currently injured. Young defender Stephen Welsh had his loan spell with Morton cut sort on Friday.
The end date on Simunovic’s contract will surprise many Celtic fans with The Sun reporting:
Simunovic, 25, is focused on returning to full fitness after knee surgery, and played his third game in a week against Ross County.
He said: “This is my last year. We’ve arranged a meeting to talk. We’ll discuss it for sure, but it’s a not a problem for me right now. I just want to be ready to play, and we have a lot of games left so I believe my chance will come.”
Celts boss Neil Lennon admits he wants to keep Simunovic for the long haul.
Wednesday’s appearance at Kilmarnock was just the second time that the 25-year-old had played on a plastic surface. Next Sunday Celtic are away to Hamilton Accies.