Ryan Christie is well equipped to be Celtic’s next Tom Rogic.
Tom Rogic is being linked with a move away from Celtic.
According to Herald Scotland, Russian giants Zenit St Petersburg are readying a £9 million offer for the Australia international.
If we’re honest, Rogic hasn’t really been at the races for Celtic since the turn of the year. He, like a number of Hoops stars, hasn’t adapted well to life under Neil Lennon following Brendan Rodgers’s exit in February.
He’s an exceptional midfielder on his day, but those days were few and far between the back end of last season.
You would think that Celtic need a long-term replacement for the 26-year-old if he goes but, the truth is, Lennon might already have a brilliant one.
Ryan Christie had a superb first season back at Parkhead following a few loan spells at Aberdeen, netting 11 goals and setting up nine across all competitions from advanced midfield last term.
To put that into perspective, Rogic, known and loved for coming up with goals from midfield, scored 12 and set up six during his best season at Paradise, the 2016-17 campaign – Rodgers’s first year in charge.
In other words, Christie’s first proper season in Glasgow isn’t that different from Rogic’s best and who’s to say that the Scotland international – who’s also two years younger – couldn’t do much better next year?
Lennon will have cash on the hip to sign a replacement if the Bhoys get £9 million for Rogic, but there is enough evidence to suggest that he should focus on improving other areas and continue with Christie.
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