Das Neueste zu...
Balde: As Sportsmail revealed earlier this week, Lennon has again trained his sights on Vitoria Guimaraes’ powerful hitman Balde, with a bid in excess of £2.5million expected to be tabled this week. And Lennon, who confirmed that Irish striker Anthony Stokes has yet to sign a new long-term deal, remains hopeful the SPL champions can fend off interest in Balde from elsewhere.
‘He is a player we have scouted and looks the type we would like but whether we can get a deal done or not, I don’t know,’ Lennon said of Balde.
‘We are just looking to strengthen that area. Balde is a big striker and has the physical attributes we are looking for. But he is interesting other clubs.’
Doyle: Republic of Ireland favourite Doyle is looking for a new club after plummeting into League One with Wolves and was targeted by Lennon on loan as recently as January. The 29-year-old, who made his name as a bargain-basement buy at Reading, has 12 international goals and has intimated privately that he’s keen for a move to his boyhood heroes. And Lennon admitted that he’s interested in finally getting a deal over the line.
‘We had an interest in Kevin in January to take him on loan but whether we take a look at a permanent move, I don’t know,’ Lennon added.
‘We haven’t pushed the button on any player but we have a number of options in each position.’
Russell: Celtic are also monitoring the situation regarding Dundee United striker Johnny Russell — but Lennon is not in a position to dwell much longer after the Tannadice club on Tuesday accepted a £750,000 bid from Derby. It is understood, however, that Russell’s preference is to sign for the Parkhead club.
Dunne und St Ledger: Speaking in Dublin as he promoted a friendly with Liverpool on August 10, Lennon refused to rule out bids for Giovanni Trapattoni’s first-choice central defenders, Richard Dunne and Sean St Ledger. Battle-scarred Aston Villa man Dunne, 33, played for the first time in almost a year in a friendly against Georgia on Sunday and Lennon admits he would break the mould of his recruitment strategy if he took him off former midfield ally Paul Lambert’s hands.
‘I don’t know what kind of condition he is in,’ he admitted. ‘The way we have been signing players over the years, Richard would fall out of that category.
‘However, we have signed players like Daniel Majstorovic and it is always good to have one or two experienced players in.
‘I wouldn’t say that it is dead, but we have made no formal or informal movements as yet.’
Boyhood Celtic fan St Ledger is looking for a new club after leaving Leicester City and Lennon said: ‘Sean’s a good player; he played very well against England and showed his qualities ... he has been on the club’s radar for a number of years now.’
Stokes: One player Lennon is confident will remain at the club is Stokes — despite the striker having not yet penned a new deal. The Dubliner spoke positively about the prospect of extending his stay in Glasgow prior to a man-of-the-match display in the Scottish Cup Final. And although negotiations are dragging on, his manager remains optimistic about the outcome.
‘He’s an important player to me,’ Lennon added. ‘We’ve offered him a new contract. I’m pretty confident he’ll be here with us next year.’
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2336012/Amido-Balde-Kevin-Doyle-transfer-targets-Neil-Lennon-Celtic.html
