Lawrence Shankland has suggested that Jonny Hayes is unlucky not to have gotten a contract extension at Celtic.
The Hoops released Shankland’s former Aberdeen team-mate last week, after three years at Parkhead.
Celtic boss Neil Lennon has repeatedly said that he wanted a new deal for the 32-year-old utility player [The Scottish Sun], indicating that the decision to let him go most likely came down from chief executive Peter Lawwell.
Hayes had been Mr Reliable under Lennon and played a big role in major wins away to Rangers and Lazio this past season, scoring in the former.
The Republic of Ireland international is well known to Shankland, who used to clean his boots at Pittodrie, and the Dundee United marksman, himself linked with a move to Celtic [The Sun], has said on BBC Sportsound that a one-year extension wouldn’t have gone amiss.
He said: “He had a good three years there and did really well. That season there, he scored in an Old Firm and all that – he maybe thought he would get another year.
“But I feel like it would be a sensible move for both parties, I don’t see anybody being disappointed if he went back there [to the Dons]. But he would be a good signing for anybody who manages to get him.”
Hayes joined Celtic under Brendan Rodgers for £1.3 million in 2017, but only really became an important player for the Bhoys when Lennon returned as manager in February of last year.
In the player’s defence, he suffered a long-term injury in his first season under Rodgers and from there it made it difficult to get back into his plans, really.
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