Celtic assistant manager Johan Mjallby is hopeful that Old Firm hero Georgios Samaras will remain at Parkhead beyond the end of the season.
The striker's current contract is set to expire this summer and reports suggest he has rejected a 12-month extension because he was seeking a longer deal.
Mjallby said: "The club and Sammy are in talks. I would be delighted to see him stay."
Mjallby was thrilled to see the Greek hitman back on top form with a double as Celtic defeated rivals Rangers 2-0 at Ibrox earlier this month. And the Hoops number two claims discussions remain ongoing with the player, who could yet pledge his future to Celtic.
"He's on form again. He's one of those players who is a bit of an enigma," Mjallby added.
"When he's on-song, he is unplayable for a defender to play against him. Now and then it's hard to get the best out of him but lately, especially against Rangers, he has been really, really good.
"At the end of the day, it's probably going to be down to him whether he stays or not. I hope so and I think so. We are still in talks."
Meanwhile, discussions are continuing between Celtic and Brann Bergen over the transfer of Norwegian forward Erik Huseklepp.
Mjallby said: "Negotiations are ongoing. I don't know really what's happening upstairs. That's not really my job anyway. But we are interested in him and we are in talks so we will see what happens.
"Before the transfer window opens, you always identify different targets and hopefully this is going to come good for us and we sign him. If not, then we have to go for other people."
Source: PA
