Celtic have opened talks with Callum McGregor over a bumper new deal to stave off a January move by Brendan Rodgers.
The 26-year-old penned a contract extension in December taking him through to 2023. After unwanted summer interest from Leicester, revealed in mailSport in June, boss Neil Lennon insists Celtic have to do the right thing and give the midfielder the star man treatment he deserves.
The Scotland playmaker will hit 250 games in the Hoops by the end of October and Lennon said: “We’re in talks at the minute, so we’re hoping to get that one finalised.
“There was interest in him, there was no question about that. That doesn’t surprise us.
“We held on to him and it’s important we do the right thing. The principled thing is to give him a new deal, he deserves it.”
Celtic told former boss Rodgers that McGregor wasn’t for sale at any price after an informal enquiry but it didn’t stop a further call near the end of the window.
Lennon said: “There was no confirmation of a bid but there was definite interest.
“In the talks we’ve had so far, Callum is receptive to staying. I don’t know how long he has left but we’re hoping to give him an improved contract anyway.”
