Craig Gordon looks to have talked his way out of a new deal with Celtic.
The keeper’s contract runs out at the end of this month with the new deal on offer on much reduced terms to the contract he signed in 2017 on the back of interest from Chelsea.
More than most clubs Celtic don’t like seeing their private business made public with Gordon not shy about the state of negotiations with the hoops.
Covering his Celtic negotiation during an interview with TalkSPORT. the Edinburgh News reports the keeper saying:
They did speak about it a few weeks ago. The negotiations haven’t been particularly good, I’ve got to be honest. It has dragged out. I feel it could have been handled an awful lot better, but I don’t want to say too much on that.
I had a fantastic time there over the six years. I still want to be able to speak to them and see what they have to offer – what they are thinking for my role for next season, if they want me to stay there.
There is still a bit of chat still to be had there. I would have liked things to be sorted out before now with them, but that leaves the door open for everybody else to make an offer.
Gordon turned down an offer from St Mirren and appears to be very close to signing for Hearts, the club that he started his career with before a £9m move to Sunderland.
If Gordon signs on at Tynecastle it puts more pressure on Celtic to complete a deal with Southampton for Fraser Forster who was first choice for Neil Lennon last season.
Scott Bain is the only keeper with first team experience contracted to Celtic beyond the end of this month but injury has restricted the former Dundee keeper to just one appearance since last August.