Irish Daily Mirror

LAST DYCYE DEAL FOR RY

Clarets want Christie before window closes

- BY SCOTT BURNS

BURNLEY remain keen on Celtic’s Ryan Christie and are ready to ramp up their interest again before the close of the transfer window.

The Clarets have been long-term admirers of the Scotland internatio­nal.

They have made various moves but are now aware that Christie can sign a pre-contract and move on freedom of contract in January.

Burnley are still looking for their first points of the Premier League season and Dyche is looking to add to his attacking threat.

Celtic boss Ange Postecoglo­u has already said he would like his club to get the 26-year-old playmaker tied down to a new contract.

Postecoglo­u is hoping to add to his squad, especially if Odsonne Edouard is sold before the close of the window.

Brighton and Crystal

Palace are both interested but it remains to be seen if they could agree personal terms.

The Frenchman has also been linked with a move to Italian giants Juventus over the past 24 hours and the speculatio­n has caused Celtic to step up their chase for Georgios Giakoumaki­s after losing out on French hitman Thomas Henry who is set to move to Serie A side new boys Venezia.

The Parkhead side are still in the hunt for several targets having landed Croatian right back Josip Juranovic at the weekend in a £2.6m deal from Legia Warsaw.

The 26-year-old won’t be eligible for Thursday’s Europa League clash with AZ Alkmaar but Postecoglo­u is continuing with his rebuilding mission.

Talks are ongoing with Greek ace Giakoumaki­s and Dutch outfit VVV Venlo with rivals Werder Bremen’s initial interest now looking to have cooled.

Postecolgo­u’s side head to Holland to defend their 2-0 Europa League play-off first leg win against AZ Alkmaar before they face Rangers at Ibrox just three days later.

Meanwhile, Hibernian boss

Jack Ross has branded talk of a swap deal with Celtic for Kevin Nisbet in exchange for Leigh Griffiths (left) as nonsense.

The Easter Road chief insists there have been no talks between his club and the Hoops over a deal.

Ross was also adamant Scotland star Nisbet missed yesterday’s 2-2 draw at Dundee through illness and his absence had nothing to do with the stories of a swap deal.

An irritated Ross said: “The link comes from somebody who has put something out that is just nonsense. It is just flying a kite.

“It has not even been discussed, considered or even had to be considered.

“It is just unfortunat­e that Kevin has been unwell because people will jump to conclusion­s on the back of some made up stuff.”

 ??  ?? CONTRACT RUNNING DOWN Celtic playmaker Ryan Christie
CONTRACT RUNNING DOWN Celtic playmaker Ryan Christie

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Ireland