Lustig’s Celtic contract expires at the end of the season.
Mikael Lustig has told Swedish newspaper Expressen that he expects to remain at Celtic beyond the end of the season and continue playing for the Scottish champions next year.
The 31-year-old, is in the final few months of his contract which expires on May 31. He can be approached by non-Scottish clubs on a pre-contract agreement under the Bosman ruling, if he does not sign a new deal before January 1.
Lustig remains a key part of Celtic, making 22 appearances in Brendan Rodgers’ side in all competitions – a tally which has seen him pass the milestone of 250 outings in green and white. He has now clocked up 254 in total.
But there are doubts among supporters over whether to offer him a new contract. Some believe the 71-time Sweden international is past it, but others believe he still offers something to the club. Lustig firmly believes he will remain.
“You can wonder as much as you can, but I have a contract with Celtic and I think I’ll play there next year too,” Lustig said, in no uncertain terms.
If Lustig, who is currently one of Celtic’s highest earners with a contract worth £24,000 a week (Daily Star), is to remain at Celtic Park beyond the end of the 2018-19 season as his comments suggest, he will need to sign a new deal.
Whether that will come about, though, is up in the air. Celtic have a whole list of players that are in the final months of their contracts, but did wipe one of those names out by handing Ryan Christie a new deal.
Captain Scott Brown, Dedryck Boyata and James Forrest are the most notable names, while Cristian Gamboa, Scott Allan and Dorus de Vries are also in the final months of their Celtic deals.
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