Nir Bitton is considering quitting Celtic in the summer and returning to Israel after nine glittering years in Glasgow.
The 30-year-old is on the verge of collecting his eighth Premiership winners’ medal with the Hoops – and his 18th honour overall – after played a big part in the club’s decade of dominance.
Record Sport understands Celtic have the option of activating another year on his current deal but the midfielder is weighing up offers from his homeland, with Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa keen on landing the international star.
Bitton hinted at the weekend his time at the club was coming to an end as he posted pictures with his family on the Parkhead pitch saying, “It’s been a hell of a journey”.
Hoops boss Ange Postecoglou has viewed versatile Bitton as a valued member of his champions-elect this season, with the playmaker making 37 appearances.
The Israel star was signed by Neil Lennon in 2013 for a bargain £1m from Ashdod in his homeland and while he often struggled to nail down a permanent position, he was an important squad man for Ronny Deila, Brendan Rodgers and Lennon in his second spell before this term.
Postecoglou has already signed deep lying midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi with a view for next season after the Japan cap was injured on his debut against Alloa, while James McCarthy has also provided experienced back up in the engine room this term.
Meanwhile, Daizen Maeda reckons Postecoglou tipped the titanic title battle in favour of Celtic.
The Aussie manager is a mathematical miracle away from clinching the Premiership silverware with two games to go.
Celtic are six points ahead of Rangers with a massive goal difference advantage and can officially seal the deal with a point against either Dundee United or Motherwell in the next five days.
Postecoglou has confessed that his new-look outfit faced a formidable opponent in the shape of their city rivals and Europa League finalists.
It has taken a monumental effort from Maeda and his team-mates to blast their way past the Ibrox team from six points behind at the turn of the year and make their way back to the summit of the Scottish game after a one-year exile.
The Japanese says it’s down to the way his boss has instilled the right mentality into the group to supplement their talent.
Maeda explained: “There is not a big difference between Celtic and Rangers, both teams play at a good level.
“But our manager brought a good attitude to us. He made us think the right way.
“And next week, as always, we hope we will get to share the happiness we feel with our fans and supporters.”
Despite the overwhelming advantages in both points and goals with only 180 minutes remaining in the top-flight term, Maeda is refusing to celebrate until the work is fully done.
He added: “We don’t have the league title yet, so I will only think about that when everything is settled.”
