TALK IS CHEAP
Lennon annoyed as McGinn and Cummings cast doubt on future but insists price must be right for Hibees
NEIL LENNON has warned his prize assets Jason Cummings and John McGinn they won’t be allowed to leave Hibs on the cheap.
The Easter Road boss was annoyed to hear both players publicly declare they’ll consider their future in the summer after helping Hibs finish the job of returning to the top flight.
Although both insisted they are happy at the club neither could say for certain they will hang around to play in the Premiership.
Cummings in particular – having seen the club reject a £1.7million bid for him from Peterborough last summer – appeared to have his eye on a big move.
He said: “I do want to challenge myself at a higher level and my job at Hibs is done a wee bit, with what I wanted to do.”
Yesterday Lennon insisted he wants to hang on to his best players as he looks to add to his titlewinning squad.
He said: “The majority of players have been offered new contracts.
“What is irking me is some of them are talking about it publicly. We deal with things in house. Jason and John won’t be going anywhere unless this club wants them to – not
unless they get an offer we deem fit for our purposes. Until that happens they’ll be playing for Hibs. “They are on long-term contracts and we were right to do that. Potential suitors know while every player has a price, that will be dictated by the club. We won’t be undercut. “We want to keep consistency and a good nucleus of squad. With the quality we have we want to add players who can make us better and stronger.” Part of Lennon’s plan includes signing on-loan defender Efe Ambrose when his Celtic contract expires in the summer and he added: “Efe is not our player but if we get an opportunity to sit down with him next week and see what his plans are, then it’s something we will pursue.”