STILIYAN PETROV believes Celtic’s board will already have started working towards trying to extend Brendan Rodgers’ contract.

The 52-year-old Northern Irishman returned in the summer of 2023 for a second spell in charge of the Hoops and his current deal expires at the end of next season.

Rodgers oversaw a Premiership and Scottish Cup double last term, while he is closing in on a domestic treble this term in addition to having reached the last 16 of the Champions League.

Former Celtic midfielder Petrov said: “He’s done a great job. I think it will be silly from the board not to continue with Brendan. So far, he hasn’t given any reasons for the board or the fans to think anything else.

“If the team finishes with a treble this year and a good European campaign, you have to look at that, and I’m sure that the board is looking into it because he’s Celtic through and through and he’s a great manager. He knows the club inside out, he knows the players as well now, and he’s got the opportunity to add his own players that he feels can help the team develop.”

Rodgers said on Friday that he requires an injection of “freshness” to his squad this summer in order for Celtic to improve.

“It was really clever from a strong manager asking for players,” said Petrov, who played for Celtic between 1999 and 2006. “I think with the new format of European football, Brendan feels that if he had more quality, more good players, then he can do even more in European football.

“We all remember that when Brendan came to the club, he was talking about the European adventures, that he wanted to achieve a lot more with Celtic in Europe, so that will be his intention.

“I don’t think he worries about domestically, he has a strong team, good players, healthy squad and he’s quite happy with that (for Scottish football). But I think with his comments, he tried to challenge the board, and now the board needs to answer. What they have to do is just go and spend money.

“I’m sure that Celtic will do that because what I’ve seen over the year, their recruitment has been really good. The development of the players has been great.”