Celtic midfielder Nir Bitton has commented on interest from home country Israel.
The Scottish Sun have quoted Celtic star Nir Bitton as pledging his loyalty to the Scottish champions amid interest from his home country in the form of Maccabi Haifa – but the Hoops should persuade him to reconsider.
The 26-year-old has supposedly caught the eye of Israeli giants Maccabi Haifa, with Dutch manager Fred Rutten looking to bring in some big-name players this summer. Bitton was supposedly his prime target.
But Bitton, who joined Celtic from Isreali side FC Ashdod in August 2013, has stood by Brendan Rodgers side by saying he wants to remain in Scotland and at least see out his current contract – which expires in 2020.
“I am not going back to Israel, it’s not on my agenda,” Bitton said. “I am currently injured and I am under contract with Celtic until 2020. I am not interested in a transfer.”
The 6ft 5in midfielder has struggled this season, being converted into a centre-back during the first half of the campaign with the likes of Olivier Ntcham, Scott Brown, Callum McGregor and Kouassi Eboue picked over him.
It has not got much better towards the end of the season, with a knee injury preventing the 20-time Israel international from featuring in the Hoops last eight league games. He has plummeted down the reckoning.
With that in mind, Celtic should look to convince Bitton to reconsider his comments, especially when he is earning a huge £12,000 a week according to the Daily Star.
Rodgers will want manoeuvrability in the summer, and having players who will struggle to make on expensive contracts such as Bitton’s are simply unneeded.
Celtic should look to persuade Bitton to make a u-turn on his comments and offload the versatile midfielder to pastures new, in order to allow Rodgers to have more backing in the transfer window.
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