MELBOURNE OFFER BROONY CONTRACT
Celtic confident of keeping captain as Australians make contract offer with MLS clubs also in chase
CELTIC captain Scott Brown has a decision to make after A-League newcomers Western Melbourne yesterday formalised what is believed to be a lucrative move for the 33-year-old midfielder.
And while sources within the Parkhead side remain confident that Brown will take up the offer that has been put forward to keep him in Glasgow, it is also suggested that the player has offers from MLS sides Minnesota United and Sporting Kansas City to consider.
However, if Brown does decide to end his 11-year association with Celtic it is expected that Australia would be his favoured choice.
Western Melbourne are thought to have made Celtic aware of their pitch for Brown out of courtesy this week, although with the midfielder in the final months of his Parkhead contract he is free to speak to any other interested parties.
And while Celtic have made it clear that Brown will be given time and space as he weighs up what will be the final contract of his playing career, they are optimistic that he will see his long-term future with the Parkhead side.
Celtic have put an offer to Brown that would ultimately lead him from the dressing room into a coaching position but they will allow him now to take his time as he deliberates over what his next step will be.
Brown has not travelled to
Australia, although talks are believed to have taken place with Western Melbourne representatives as they make their pitch for a marquee signing ahead of their inaugural season in the A-League.
The Australians are due to kick off their season in October and want Brown for a July move which would give him ample time to acclimatise and get a full pre-season under his belt before the campaign gets underway.
With the potential for a three-year playing deal on the table for Brown from Western Melbourne, it is an attractive proposition that the Celtic skipper will have to mull over.
Brown is due to report to Celtic on Saturday as Brendan Rodgers’ side head out to Dubai for a week of warm weather training ahead of the second half of the campaign.
Meanwhile, Filip Benkovic looks set to see out the remainder of the season in Glasgow after Leicester manager Claude Puel revealed that unless he has an injury crisis then he expects the Croatian to see out the campaign at Celtic.
Benkovic, who went off with a calf injury in the defeat to Rangers on Saturday, joined Celtic on the final day of the summer transfer window on a season-long loan deal, but the Foxes had the option of taking the player back this month if they required his services.
The 21-year-old signed for Leicester in a £13m deal from Dinamo Zagreb in August but headed to Glasgow almost immediately on a loan deal.
He has been pivotal to the Hoops defence this term and Celtic will be relived that he will remain for the duration of the campaign, particularly with Dedryck Boyata’s situation so uncertain.
“We have a lot of defenders at the club,” said Puel.
“Assuming we don’t get any injuries it’s better Filip maintains his loan at Celtic.”