JOSIP JURANOVIC has been urged to pen a new Celtic deal amid speculation that he exit Parkhead this coming January.

Contract talks are currently on hold with the Croatian and it is understood the Hoops are braced for bids when the transfer window opens.

Juranovic is away with Croatia at the World Cup in Qatar and if he impresses over the course of the tournament, offers could could well come in.

Chelsea, Manchester United and Atletico Madrid have been credited with an interest in the past, but Frank McAvennie reckons a new Celtic contract would be the best move for all parties.

He told Football Insider: “I think there is not much we can do about it in Scotland.

“It is not just Celtic. I think every club is a selling club now. It does not make any difference what contract he is on. If someone comes in and the right money is offered, he will be gone.

“If they are offering him a new contract now he should take it. Then Celtic are going to get more money out of it. It is a win-win for the player. If he has got respect for Celtic, and I think he does, then he will sign the contract.

“It might never materialise, a move might not happen. He is such a good player and somebody will come in for him somewhere down the line.

“He is getting a bit of security if he signs the contract and if he has a good World Cup then he will be gone."

Meanwhile, Ange Postecoglou offered no excuses as he admitted Celtic “were well off it” as they started their Australia trip with a 2-1 defeat to Sydney FC on Thursday.

The Scottish champions took the lead in the opening game of the Sydney Cup when Alexandro Bernabei’s 23rd-minute shot took a big deflection off Kyogo Furuhashi and ended up in the net.

But the hosts hit back two minutes later and then got themselves in front early in the second half.

Manager Postecoglou was disappointed with the way his team played.

“It’s fair to say we were nowhere near the level we need to be,” he told Celtic TV. “It was an entertaining game with plenty goalmouth action for both teams, but we were well off it. To Sydney’s credit, especially in the first half, they had the better chances and deserved to win.”

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