With Celtic set to witness a mass range of departures from Parkhead this summer, there will be some players within their ranks that supporters will be sadder to see leave than others.Losing top goal scorer Odsonne Edouard to the jaws of English football would not be ideal while watching Kristoffer Ajer pack his bags would be difficult as well.
What’s the word?
One player that hasn’t been too popular with the fans this season is Ryan Christie.
His performances have dwindled and now he could be leaving Paradise behind with his contract expiring shortly.
Rather bizarrely, the Scot’s current terms expire in January which means they face losing him for nothing next year.
Fortunately, Southampton look as though they could come to the rescue of both player and club.
According to The Sun, the Saints are interested in landing Christie during the upcoming transfer window and are aiming to watch him in action during Euro 2020.
Also interested are fellow Premier League sides Burnley and Norwich City.
Huge boost
With interest this summer comes the greater chance of actually receiving a fee for Christie, something that wouldn’t be possible next year.
That’s a positive for the club but his exit is likely to be welcomed by the supporters too.
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They’ve launched some pretty scathing attacks on the Scotland international this season, bemoaning him for his abject performances.
Traditionally a number 10, Christie has been forced to play out wide for large portions of the campaign due to a prolonged injury to James Forrest.
Unfortunately, his form in that third of the pitch has been dismal.
Last term the 26-year-old racked up 20 goals and 16 assists in all competitions but as Celtic laboured to a trophyless climax, he ended the term with only seven strikes.
To sum up how dismal his form was, he only scored twice in his last 24 league outings, being torn to shreds by various sections of fans because of his long-range shooting.
At one stage this term, the attacker had managed only one goal from 51 attempts at goal from outside of the box.
Courtesy of Bhoys Analytics, a video demonstrates the ease at which Christie wastes promising opportunities. He would drift towards the edge of the area but fire an attempt wildly away from goal instead of sliding in teammates standing in a better position.
A classic example came against Ross County when the player fired five shots off target in a shoddy attacking display. He even spurned an opportunity from a matter of yards out, firing handsomely over the bar after being teed up by Edouard.
With that in mind, losing Christie should come as a boost to Celtic’s chances moving forward. It will also delight the supporters who have been left dismayed with his performances in 2020/21.