CELTIC must make Scott Brown an offer he can’t refuse.
That’s the verdict of former Hoops striker Chris Sutton who believes the veteran skipper still has a massive role to play at the club in a crucial summer rebuild.
The midfielder, who will celebrate his 36th birthday in June when he will become a free agent, is wanted by Aberdeen as assistant manager to his old Hibs team-mate Stephen Glass who is on the verge of getting the top job.
However, Sutton insisted the Parkhead club MUST keep the player who has won a monumental 22 honours since being signed by Gordon Strachan for £4.4million from the Easter Road outfit in 2007.
The one-time England international hitman, speaking to the Daily Record, said: “Brown’s knowledge and know-how off the park, his motivational skills, his leading by example in training and his ability to still perform at high standard would make him a coup for any club.
“He can’t be allowed to leave Celtic. Not now. Not at a time when they are going to need someone with his experience of the place and his ability to unite.
“Brown is a leader of men and, no matter what is on offer at Pittodrie, Celtic need to make sure what they offer means there is not a chance he’ll even think about moving to the north east.”
Celtic face a summer of change where there is likely to be a huge turnover of the playing staff and Brown will add continuity and stability to the ranks.
Although he was not an automatic first pick for ex-boss Neil Lennon in his latter months in charge, the inspirational Celt was still Man of the Match with a pulverising performance in the Scottish Cup spot-kick triumph over Hearts at Hampden five days before Christmas when the club sealed the phenomenal quadruple treble.
Brown rolled back the years and lasted the 90 minutes and the first period of extra-time where his courageous header fell to Leigh Griffiths who crashed in the third goal.
On that evidence alone, there will be many who agree with Sutton that Celtic must hold onto the skipper.
