Monday 22 February 2016 16:36, UK
James Forrest is set to leave Celtic after manager Ronny Deila revealed the winger had rejected a new contract.
The 24-year-old had previously claimed in November he wanted to stay at Parkhead and was "pretty confident" a new deal would be sorted out.
However, Deila now claims Forrest, who has been capped 12 times by Scotland, wants to try something new.
The Celtic manager had earlier confirmed a four-year deal was on the table for the player, whose contract runs out, unusually, in mid-season, in December this year, which could lead to the club looking to get a fee in the summer.
"We offered him a contract and he has turned it down. He has told us he wishes to see what his other options are," Deila told the Evening Times.
"I cannot see that we will go back to him with another improved deal because to my mind it was a very good offer that the club put to him."
Forrest scored on his debut against Motherwell in May 2010 and, although he has made 187 appearances for the club, has suffered with injury problems in the past few years.
Deila has worked with his medical and sports science staff to find a way of keeping Forrest consistently fit following a spate of muscle injuries.
The Norwegian revealed in December 2014 that the wide man had been "out for 550 days in the last four years" but the player has already made 32 appearances this term, breaking the 30-mark for the first time in four seasons, although 14 of them have been from the bench.
