Report: Celtic could take advantage of interested historic Italian club Ryan Christie

Italian Serie A team Sampdoria are keen to take advantage of the uncertainty surrounding Celtic midfielder Ryan Christie.

According to a report in the Daily check-in, Sampdoria, 9th in Serie A last season [Sky Sports], hold on to the Scottish star. Now coached by Roberto D’Aversa, after an unsuccessful stint under Premier League winner Claudio Ranieri, the historic Italian team has ambitions for European football.

Report says Christie, who made 15 assists last season [Transfermarkt], is the man to help achieve these goals. the Daily check-in also state that Christie is likely to decide his future this summer and that he is unlikely to sign an extension at Parkhead.

Oddly, Christie’s contract would expire in January 2022. Earlier this week, Sean Dyche’s Burnley was reportedly interested in bringing Christie to Turf Moor.

Monaco, Nice and Leicester City were also credited with interest. the Daily mail reported in June that former Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers wanted to return to the midfielder.

Christie, once a vital cog in the Celtic offense, had a patchy season in 20-21. Often forced to play to the right of the midfielder, the best qualities of the attacking midfielder have been blunted by playing in an unnatural position. After scoring 36 goals in 19-20, Christie’s numbers dropped significantly last season, with 7 goals and 15 assists in all competitions. [Transfermarkt].

Celtic man Ryan Christie would surely be okay with EU decision

Being linked to Sampdoria, Nice and Monaco seems more fitting than Burnley or Leicester City, in a way.

Burnley rarely uses a pure number 10 under Sean Dyche. Leicester City, meanwhile, pride themselves on the talents of James Maddison. Therefore, a switch to either seemed unlikely from the start.

Playing in Ligue 1 or Serie A, however, would surely appeal to ex-Inverness man Caledonian Thistle. Christie’s speed, vision and sense of goal seem perfectly suited to the pace of Italian or French football.

Generally speaking, Sampdoria have used an attacking midfielder for much of the 20-21 campaign. [WhoScored?]. Using a variety of formations under Claudio Ranieri, Adrien Silva and Valerio Verre were tasked with playing behind a main striker.

However, neither was particularly impressive in Serie A last season. This is certainly an area where Sampdoria could modernize. Christie, for all her faults in 20-21, could still certainly do a job in that number 10 role.

READ MORE: The bold call of the Celtic patron