Former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie believes that Ryan Christie has played his last game for the Hoops.

The Lowdown: Christie’s contract

The 26-year-old, who has been at the club since 2015, is out of contract in January 2022. That means Christie can talk to clubs outside of Scotland ahead of a pre-contract agreement, which could result in a free transfer next year.

He has been linked with the likes of Monaco and Southampton recently but is still a Hoops player for the time being. He has made 142 appearances in green and white, scoring 40 goals and registering 41 assists while winning five major honours, but it seems that his days in Glasgow could now be numbered.

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The Latest: McAvennie comments

McAvennie was talking to Football Insider regarding Christie and his Parkhead future. The 61-year-old, who labelled the midfielder a ‘laughing stock’ last month, said:

“He’s been allowed to talk to clubs now.

“He’s still here. That shows you how in-demand he is. I don’t think he’ll get a game now at Celtic.

“He’s had his chance, that doesn’t change overnight when a new manager comes in.

“On the other hand, Postecoglou might like him. He might take the decision out of Christie’s hands and make him part of the squad.

“He’s not a team player so I can’t see that. But he can want to go as much as he wants, no one has come in for him."

The Verdict: Sell as soon as possible

Even though Christie is able to discuss a pre-contract agreement, interested clubs may still want to sign him now, which means they would have to pay the Hoops a fee.

It seems as if this will be the last chance Celtic will get to receive a fee for the midfielder, so it’s crucial that they do so instead of losing him for nothing.

His Transfermarkt valuation stands at £6.3m, but with six months left on his contract, a deal worth half that figure could still be good business.

In other news: UEFA Pro Licence coach keen to work with Ange Postecoglou at Celtic, find out more here.