NO FLEECING OVER FLETCH

Hoops warn they won’t pay over the odds for striker

CELTIC have made it clear they will not be dragged into a bidding war for veteran Scotland striker Steven Fletcher.

The 33-year-old’s name has made it onto a list of potential attacking options as manager Neil Lennon attempts to beef up his strikeforce for the push towards 10 in a row – and initial talks between the club and Fletcher’s agent have already taken place.

But while Lennon is an admirer of the experienced frontman he is in no rush to match the long term offers that Fletcher has already received from clubs at the top end of the

English Championship following his decision to turn down a new deal at Sheffield Wednesday.

With fringe man Vakoun Bayo set to leave the champions on a season long loan deal, however, Lennon is keen to bring in at least one new striker this summer, with Peterborough

United’s Ivan

Toney and West

Ham’s Albian Ajeti also in his sights.

And Celtic are also bracing themselves for a possible big money bid for talisman Odsonne Edouard, who opened up the league campaign with a hat-trick in Sunday’s 5-1 romp over Hamilton. Former

Parkhead boss Brendan Rodgers is plotting a £30m package to take the Frenchman (both inset) to Leicester City.

The Hoops has no wish to cash in on their most valuable asset but they are aware of mounting interest around the prolific 22-year-old, which is another reason Lennon is keen to assess all available options. Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson, meanwhile, is resigned to losing 24 year-old Toney but is hoping for a deal to be thrashed out as a matter of urgency.

He said: “We will have to wait and see with Ivan and it could be a distraction if his situation rumbles on.

“That wouldn’t be ideal.

“It would be better if things were resolved quickly, but the owners quite rightly won’t sell him unless they get the right price so it could be we end up with the best striker in League One playing for us at the start of the season so I’m quite relaxed about it.

“Ivan won’t play in the first friendlies, but if he is still here as the new season approaches I will have to play him.

“I can’t sign anyone until he leaves, which again is not ideal as I would want as much time as possible with the player we bring in to replace him.”