Michael Oliver 
Ian MacNicol/Getty Images Sport
There’s been a lot of talk in recent months about Emilio Izaguirre leaving the club in the summer, but now he’s confirmed he may not be just yet.
Celtic activated a one-year extension clause in Emilio Izaguirre’s contract which will see him stay at the club until the end of next season.
Speaking to Honduran outlet Diez about the situation, he said:
I have one more year at Celtic and they do not want me to leave. I have been here for seven years and won 10 trophies, it could be 11 by the end of the season.
The coach (Brendan Rodgers) tells me he wants to me stay and I will keep working hard.
If I get the chance, I will give it my all. Is there any possibility I could leave this summer? It’s complicated because they want me to continue and everyone treats me well.
The Honduran defender has spent the last seven seasons at Parkhead following a £620,000 move from CD Motagua in August 2010 and was set to leave the club in the summer.
Fellow Central American side Deportiva Alajuelense were interested in signing the 30-year-old on a free transfer in the summer but Celtic have ensured that he sticks around for at least one more year.
Izaguirre has made 251 appearances for Celtic since joining, scoring seven goals and recording 47 assists but has fallen behind Kieran Tierney in the pecking order since the teenager emerged as a first-team starter, making just nine SPFL starts this season.
As far a back ups go, Izaguirre is very competent and showed that when Kieran Tierney was out injured and required double surgery.
It also means Celtic don’t have to find a replacement in the transfer market and could allow a youth player to develop into the role under Izaguirre’s guidance, as Tierney did previously.
