WANTAWAY Celtic midfielder Ryan Christie has emerged as a shock target for Sampdoria.
The 26-year-old playmaker is out of contract in January and the Hoops’ only hope of a transfer fee is to cash in now.
The club are aware of interest from the Serie A outfit who are looking at a squad rebuild after the disappointment of missing out on European football, according to a report in the Daily Record.
New head coach Roberto D’Aversa, who has taken over from Claudio Ranieri, is aware of the qualities of Christie, who cost the Parkhead side a bargain £500,000 when he joined from Inverness Caley Thistle in the summer of 2015.
The Highlander has knocked back extension offers and will be on his way with Burnley, Crystal Palace, Nice and Monaco also linked with the player whose appearances for Scotland in the Euros last month were restricted to the first-half of the 2-0 loss to Czech Republic at Hampden in the opening encounter.
Christie was in the shop window and good performances against the Czechs, England and Croatia would have hiked his price, but he failed to make an impact.
New boss Ange Postecoglou – who has confirmed assistants John Kennedy and Gavin Strachan will remain at the club – is already scouring the worldwide market for replacements in his squad revamp.
Christie won’t play a part in his long-term plans.
