Neil Lennon hopes Stilian Petrov will stay on at Celtic and one day replace him as club captain. Lennon said: "It is imperative he stays because he's the lifeblood of the club.
"He is 26 and has his peak years ahead of him. He is playing some fantastic football and is one of the best midfield player in Britain.
"He is vice-captain anyway and whenever I am out of the team for one reason or the other Stan takes over so he's the ideal replacement."
The Bulgarian international captain is in talks over a new contract despite having 18 months left on his deal.
And Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell insists the club are prioritising talks with the attacking midfielder.
"It's very early in the discussions," he told the Scottish Daily Mail. "We started them 20 months early and there is no need for panic, we've got time.
"We had one offer from Fulham in the summer, but that was rejected.
"We know clubs will be looking but, equally, we know what we've got to work with and we will do all we can to keep Stilian at Celtic."
Petrov has been a big hit since he arrived in Glasgow as a teenager and has six goals to his name this season.
Reports have suggested that Blackburn and Newcastle could bid for 26-year-old and that Celtic are interested in Ajax midfielder Steven Pienaar as a replacement.
But manager Gordon Strachan is anxious to retain the services of Petrov.
"Stilian really wants to stay here and that is good," he said last month. "We really want him to stay."
MMIX
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