CELTIC are negotiating a new deal for Mikael Lustig – as CQN revealed last month.
Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers is keen to keep the 29-year-old Swedish defender at Parkhead with his contract due to expire in June.
And chief executive Peter Lawwell is now in discussions with Lustig’s agent about extending his stay at the champions.
Rodgers said: “Mikael’s one I definitely want to keep and the club are in discussions with his representatives.
“He’s an important player for us, one of the pillars of the group.
“Mikael’s a great character, motivated to train and a great professional. Mikael’s a fun guy, but he knows when to focus. He’s a Scott Brown-type in the dressing-room.
“He’s been excellent since I came in and I think he wants to stay.
“He’s 29 and it’s probably going to be the last major contract. When you get to that age you want to make sure everything is right.
“If he plays until he’s 35, he’s got another six years. That’s 72 pay packets left in his career.
“That’s it, then he’s done. That has to last him for the rest of his life. So, he wants to get as much in there as he can. That’s the game.
“But he wants to be here and Mikael knows I want him here. It’s a relaxed situation, there’s no drama.”
Lustig joined Celtic from Rosenborg in 2011 on a Bosman and has been a key player in defence, winning four Premiership titles, two League Cups and a Scottish Cup.
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