CHRISTIE ESCAPE ROUTE
Norwich and Burnley set to offer Celtic star a way out
NORWICH CITY and Burnley are prepared to do battle for Ryan Christie — with the Celtic midfielder set to become the first departure of a summer of transition at the club.
Only contracted to the Parkhead outfit until January of next year, the 26-year-old Scotland international is free to talk with would-be suitors in the coming weeks.
With Celtic keen to recoup some money for the player, English Championship winners Norwich are prepared to
take Christie now as Daniel Farke builds for their return to the Premier League. Burnley, too, see Christie as capable of making an impression in the top flight — with their move likely to materialise once Sean Dyche’s men have secured their Premier League status. The subject of interest from Nice last year, Christie is also understood to have options on the continent as his six-year stay in Glasgow draws to a close. He could yet become a team-mate of Kristoffer Ajer at Carrow Road, with Norwich also showing interest in Celtic’s Norwegian defender, although Sportsmail understands his preferred destination is Newcastle United. Despite AC Milan’s longstanding interest in Ajer, his mind is now set on a cross-border move with the prospect of guaranteed first-team football at St James’ Park appealing to him. Newcastle scouts were in attendance at Ibrox as Celtic crashed to a 4-1 defeat on Sunday, with a concrete offer for the Norway international thought to be imminent. Odsonne Edouard is likely to be the third high-profile departure of the summer, with Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City heading the pack of clubs chasing the Frenchman. A £9million signing from Paris Saint-Germain in 2018, Celtic are hopeful of at least doubling their money on the 23-year-old forward.