Celtic star Georgios Samaras in talks over new contract

Celtic will step up attempts to renew the contract of Georgios Samaras after tying down fellow striker Anthony Stokes for two more years.

Stokes signed a new three-year contract on Tuesday that commits him to Celtic until the summer of 2016.

And chief executive Peter Lawwell is looking to secure new deals for Greece forward Samaras and Wales midfielder Joe Ledley, whose contracts both expire at the end of the season.

Lawwell said: “We are meeting Samaras’s agent next week. Ledley we are in constant discussions, we are to-ing and fro-ing on that.”

Swedish defender Mikael Lustig is also in the frame for a new contract while Lawwell is relaxed about Kris Commons’ situation.

“We haven’t done anything on Kris,” Lawwell said.

“He has a year and a half to go and I think he is quite happy with that.

“Mikael has a year and a half to go and we are hoping to start conver-sations with his people.”