CELTS WON’T ENTER BIDDING WAR FOR FLETCH
Celtic keep move for wanted hitman on back burner as they make wages pledge
CELTIC have made it clear they won’t be dragged into a bidding war for veteran Scotland striker Steven Fletcher.
Record Sport can reveal the 33-year-old’s name has made it on to 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 that 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 Fletcher has already received four from clubs at the top end of the English Championship following his decision to turn down a new Sheffield Wednesday deal.
But with fringe player Vakoun Bayo set to leave the champions on a season-long loan deal, Lennon is keen to bring in at least one new striker and Peterborough’s Ivan Toney and West Ham’s Albian Ajeti are also in his sights.
Celtic are also bracing themselves for a possible big-money bid for talisman Odsonne Edouard, who opened the league campaign with a hat-trick in Sunday’s 5-1 romp over Hamilton. Ex-Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers is plotting a £30million package to take the Frenchman to Leicester City.
The club has no wish to cash in their most valuable asset but Celtic are aware of mounting interest around the prolific 22-year-old, another reason Lennon is keen to assess all available options.
Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson is resigned to losing Toney, 24, but hopes a deal can be thrashed out soon.
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 relaxed about it.”