RONNY DEILA has tipped his midfield maestro Nir Bitton to become a top European player with Celtic – and hinted that he may soon be offered a new contract.

The Israeli has hardly put a foot wrong in 2015 and from the start of this season his form has gone up another level.

Bitton, 23, has made it clear he wants to stay in Glasgow and his advisors have put the word out that he would welcome a new long-term contract.

It is something the club have been discussing, which will come as good news to the Celtic supporters.

Deila said: "Nir has the possibility to be a top European player and is taking big steps all the time. I think he can make it.

"Nir is a player that we want to have for a long time, so of course he is one that we are looking at keeping. But we are looking at everyone’s contract. We have control over that.

“The process is not done in one day. It takes time and you have to do it in the right way.

“But Peter (Lawwell) and me have a lot of experience in these situations. We know what to do and when to start it.

“Nir is a player we want at Celtic for a long time."

The harsh reality for Celtic in this era is that any player who is cut above does have a price on their head and recent history has shown they will be sold for the right amount of money.

Bitton is in no rush to leave, however, it is inconceivable to think that the player's performances of late have not been spotted by the English clubs.

And Deila had to admit that this might be the next on to move on for a big fee.

He said: "We have quite a few players who can get better and have the potential to get up to the level of Fraser Forster or Virgil van Dijk. Nir is one of them."