Ronny Deila is confident that James Forrest will be the next player at the club to sign a contract extension.

Leigh Griffiths has been teed up for a contract extension by the Parkhead side but Deila is also keen to secure Forrest on a longer deal.

Deila has revealed that talks have taken place which are agreeable to both parties and it is expected that a new deal for the 24-year-old is imminent.

“Peter [Lawwell] is on top of these things all the time and he knows what is going on,” said Deila. “He has the right experience for these matters.

“James is definitely the next that we would like to get in and sign a new contract and get it out of the way. James and I speak all the time and we would be hopeful that he will agree new terms to stay because he is another important player for us.

“We have started to see the form he is capable of this season and when he is fit and pain free he is a great talent. We would love to get him signed up. Hopefully that will happen. He is happy here and we are happy with him.

“He wants to stay and we want him here so it should not be a problem. He can be a big player for Celtic because he is very talented. We just need to keep him fit and injury free.”

Forrest himself had stated a few weeks back that he would be agreeable to a new deal.

“I want to stay at Celtic,” he said. “Everything you do every day is enjoyable and I want to stay here. A lot of the boys feel the same because it’s such a big club.

“I think I have a year and two months left and I am pretty confident it can be sorted. As I say, it’s a big club and you don’t get much better than the European nights here.

“In the last year I’ve kicked on and I want to keep doing that. I really want to play more games and enjoy these massive games in Europe. I love them with Celtic and hopefully with Scotland as well. I just want to keep going.”

Griffiths is expected to also sign up for the long term with the club and Deila believes the new deal has been well earned by the striker.

“That is very good news that he is ready to give his future here,” said the Celtic manager. “He has been unbelievable for us and he is a guy who scores every week – but he still has the potential to get even better.

“We are delighted that it looks as though he is ready to sign a longer deal here with us because he has been so important. He has shown that he is strong enough to play at this club and it is great news that he is ready to commit his future here.”