NEIL LENNON is ready to go to the wire in order to land the last pieces of his Celtic jigsaw, but insists that he won’t have to sell any players, even if his team crash out of the Europa League tonight.
Lennon and his side travelled to Sarajevo yesterday as they look to overcome the final hurdle between them and the group stages of the Europa League, but the Celtic manager is also working hard behind the scenes to bring at least one more player into his squad.
And he expects that there may be twists and turns to come before the prolonged summer transfer window finally closes at midnight on Monday.
“It will go to the wire I’d imagine,” Lennon said. “We’ll probably see a lot of movement over the weekend.
“I wouldn’t have thought [we would have to sell]. We want to keep the squad and we’ve been pretty strong on that.
“We don’t want anyone to leave. If that means we have to dig our heels in, then so be it. But I think we’re quite strong on that.
“I’ve had no indication that I’ll have to sell a player [even if we go out of the Europa League].
“At the moment there’s no one going out. Maybe some of the younger players might need the experience.
“Jonathan Afolabi has done on loan to Dundee and I think that’s a good move for him. He’s signed a new deal as well so that gives him a bit of security and he can go and have a good time up there under James McPake with Gordon Strachan helping out in the background.
“It will be brilliant for his development.”
Meanwhile, Lennon provided a fitness update ahead of tonight’s game, with mixed news on recent absentees Christopher Jullien, James Forrest and Albian Ajeti.
“Jullien is back so he’ll be in the squad and will travel,” he said.
“Jamesy and Ajeti will stay behind. Ajeti we are hoping will be fit for Rangers. Jamesy we’re probably looking at a bit longer. I haven’t got an exact time frame on the injury but it’s bone bruising on the ankle and it’s very sore at the minute.
“We’re just waiting on confirmation from the specialist on that.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here