A report in The Sun claims that Nice are hoping to sign Ryan Christie for under £10m in January!
The transfer window has been closed less than a week but there is virtually no aspect of that claim that stands up to close scrutiny.
Joining a French club that finished in a Europa League place isn’t likely to be carry much appeal to the player while the timing and price tag are unlikely to bring Celtic to the negotiating table.
Next summer will be a different landscape with Celtic well aware that Christie, Odsonne Edouard, Kris Ajer and Olivier Ntcham will all be into the final year of their contracts.
There is as much uncertainty surrounding football clubs at the end of the transfer window as there was at the start, no clubs are playing in front of capacity crowds with sponsorship and commercial income greatly reduced compared to a year ago.
Speculating about the next transfer window, The Sun reports:
NICE are hot on the trail of Celtic attacker Ryan Christie.
The Hoops star, 25, has shot to the top of the French giants’ wanted list after they ran the rule over him on a recent trip to Britain. Christie has also attracted interest from Newcastle and Burnley, who know his Hoops deal is running out.
Nice value the attacking midfielder at £10million but hope they can get him cheaper in the New Year. But Celtic chiefs are keen to hang on to the Scotland star as they chase ten in a row and another treble.
In pre-season Nice got a close up look at Christie as Celtic played friendlies against themselves, Lyon and Paris Saint Germain.
If the midfielder does leave next year Southampton, the club that signed Virgil van Dijk, Stuart Armstrong, Fraser Forster and Victor Wanyama ae likely to be very interested.