VICTOR Wanyama last night told Celtic supporters he would still be at the club next season.
Six months after the player's agent rejected the offer of an improved contract from the Clydesdale Bank Premier League champions, the Kenyan midfielder stated did not intend to leave.
Neil Lennon, the manager, and Peter Lawwell, the chief executive, have both seemed resigned to losing Wanyama over recent months and Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are among the clubs linked with the 21-year-old. He signed a four-year deal in the summer of 2011 but when Celtic tried to improve the worth and length of that deal earlier this season, he turned them down.
Lawwell seemed to allude to Wanyama and Gary Hooper in March when he said it was "inevitable that one or two players will want to move on" this summer. Lennon has generally sounded more optimistic about persuading Hooper to stay than Wanyama. Ironically Celtic's successful business model is sustained by identifying and signing outstanding talents like Wanyama – who cost just £900,000 from Belgian club Beerschot – and then selling them on at great profit.
Wanyama – speaking at Hampden yesterday as he was announced as one of Cheque Centre PFA Scotland's young player of the year candidates – said he had not recently discussed his future with his agent, Rob Moore. "I'm happy at Celtic, I love it here. I'll be here next season. I still have a contract with Celtic so I'm sure I will still be here," he said.
"I haven't spoken to my agent because I've been concentrating on playing. I'm not worried because I feel I'm at the right club and I'm just happy. I want to do my best and pay the manager back for what he's done for us as a team."
Wanyama is on a shortlist for the young player of the year award which includes Hibernian striker Leigh Griffiths and Dundee United pair Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong. The shortlist for the main player of the year award – the result of which will be announced on May 5 – does not contain any of his team-mates, although it is likely Wanyama, Hooper, Fraser Forster and Kris Commons all secured votes this year but not in sufficient numbers.
Hooper did offer ample recognition to Lennon and stated that his time at Celtic will be hard to top. The striker is expected to be in demand from clubs during the summer, with Norwich City having been unsuccessful with a bid of £6m in January.
"The three years I have had at Celtic are the best years I have ever had," said the striker. "I'll always remember that it was Neil Lennon who gave me this chance. I don't think you can beat it here: the fans, the club, the players, absolutely everything."
Should he leave Lennon may seek to add another forward to his squad, although yesterday the Celtic manager was focused on trying to add a more creative player during the transfer window, one in a similar mould to former club favourite Lobomir Moravcik.
"A Lubo-type of player would be fantastic, we all love those type of players," said Lennon, who has been linked with Scotland internationalist George Boyd. "That is the type of player we will be looking for next season. They are the difference at times in games."
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