Arsenal are reportedly the latest club to have emerged in pursuit of Ryan Christie over a possible move in the January transfer window.
According to an exclusive report by 90 min, Ryan Christie is the subject of interest from Arsenal over a possible move in the January transfer window. The Gunners are set to battle Premier League rivals Leicester City, Newcastle United, Brighton & Hove Albion, Burnley and Southampton in the race to sign the 25-year-old Celtic midfielder.
Christie joined Celtic from Iverness Caledonian Thistle in the summer of 2015, but it was not until the 2018/19 season that he finally managed to establish a foothold in the Scottish giant’s first-team setup. After impressing on loan at Aberdeen, the player has not looked back, becoming a mainstay in midfield for the Bhoys.
The 25-year-old continues to be a consistent performer for Celtic, despite their struggles so far this term, with 4 goals and 11 assists in 28 appearances across all competitions. His progress over the last couple of years has been duly noted, with a bevy of Premier League clubs scouting the Scottish international extensively. And, the latest to join in the race to sign him are Arsenal.
The Gunners seem to be turning a new leaf upon the end of a tumultuous 2020, having won three Premier League games for the first time this season after beating West Bromwich Albion this week. However, despite their upturn in form, it will be foolhardy to ignore Arsenal’s creative woes for the most part in the ongoing campaign.
Indeed, with Mesut Ozil banished from the first-team squad, Arsenal have struggled to carve out the openings consistently. As a result, they have been linked with a number of creative midfielders, starting with Dominik Szoboszlai, who has chosen to join RB Leipzig instead. The latest star on the north Londoners’ radar has been Emiliano Buendia.
Meanwhile, a move for RB Leipzig captain Marcel Sabitzer has also been mooted in recent weeks. Now, though, it seems as if Arsenal also have Christie in their sights over a possible January switch. The 25-year-old is stalling over a new contract and with just 18 months remaining on his current deal, the winter window could be perfect to pounce for Arsenal.
The report claims that Celtic will hold out for a sizable offer for the Scottish international, but with Christie unwilling to pen a renewal, a bid could change their stance. What now remains to be seen is if Arsenal to lodge an offer for the Scottish international, or if the likes of Leicester, Southampton and others make a move instead, with a January transfer certainly a possibility.