Alternative contract offers not on the agenda for Stokes

Hugh Macdonald

Chief Sports Writer

Monday 4 March 2013

ANTHONY STOKES has declined to speak with any suitors for his signature as he seeks to win another contract at Celtic.

Anthony Stokes celebrates his goal against St Mirren. Picture: Lynne Cameron/PA

Custom byline text:

Hugh MacDonald

The 22-year-old striker has been told by Neil Lennon he is playing for his future with his contract at Parkhead running out in the summer. Celtic have the option to re-sign the Irish internationalist but, until then, Stokes is free to negotiate with other clubs although he said: "I've no intentions of doing that whatsoever. I'm happy here."

The striker scored the winner in the 2-1 victory over St Mirren in the William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final and emphasised his preferred option was to stay with the champions."I'm enjoying my football, it's been a long few months out and I'm just delighted to be back in the team contributing goals," he said of a season blighted by injury."I just love the club. I enjoy being here. Playing every week is all I want," he added. "That's all I've been looking for."Stokes, who joined Celtic for £1.2m in 2010 from Hibernian, was asked how he would react if no extension was proposed in the summer."Listen, I'd move on. That's football. It happens to managers every week and it's the same with players," he said. "I'd be disappointed, obviously."Meanwhile, Celtic target Juwon Oshaniwa last night revealed he held talks with Parkhead chief scout John Park and was puzzled his January move fell through.The Nigerian international left back was on Celtic's wishlist in the last transfer window after the player was recommended by Efe Ambrose, his international team-mate who he also played alongside at FC Ashdod. Oshaniwa helped Nigeria win the Africa Cup of Nations, but was then struck down with malaria.The 22-year-old defender thought he would follow Ambrose to Scotland and admitted: "It's true that I spoke to Celtic. I talked with their chief scout. He told me that he expected the transfer to go through and hoped the club would sign me. I don't know what went wrong."I always work hard and believe something good will eventually happen. I was very ill for over a month, but I think I am fully recovered now."

Contextual targeting label:

Sport

Commenting & Moderation

We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.

Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.

Alternative contract offers not on the agenda for Stokes

Commenting & Moderation

MOST READ

SPONSORED LINKS

MOST COMMENTED