Scottish Daily Mail

‘I AIM TO KEEP SAINTS LOAN DUO’

- By MARK WILSON

NEIL LENNON is optimistic of having Fraser Forster and Mohamed Elyounouss­i back at Celtic for the new season. And the Parkhead manager has not closed the door on Craig Gordon after the veteran goalkeeper turned down a contract offer. Forster and Elyounouss­i have both been training at Lennoxtown this week under the terms of their loan agreements from Southampto­n. They are due to return to St Mary’s at the end of this month, but Lennon believes extended stays are feasible even amid the financial uncertaint­y created by the coronaviru­s crisis. ‘I don’t think it’s unrealisti­c,’ he said. ‘They are two players who

added a lot to the squad last year and made a really positive contributi­on. ‘We’d really like to have both of them back for next season. But it won’t be just down to us, as they are not our players. ‘You have the strange fragmented time with transfers, with the English league not finishing until the end of July. We might have to be patient but talks are ongoing at the minute. ‘It’ll need to be thrashed out between both clubs but it’s been encouragin­g to hear what they have both been saying about the club.’ Forster’s return to Parkhead last season pushed Gordon back down the pecking order, with the 37-year-old making just six appearance­s. He rebuffed a contract extension from Celtic and is interestin­g former club Hearts as well as St Mirren. ‘There’s no movement yet but talks are ongoing,’ said Lennon. ‘The door is always open. I’d like to keep him, he’s a top profession­al and he handled himself really well last season. ‘Craig is absolute quality and we don’t know what will happen with Fraser as well. We’ll hopefully know more over the next few weeks.’ Lennon expects to soon finalise his backroom team for the ten-in-a-row bid, with the club closing in on a replacemen­t first-team coach after Damien

Duff joined the Republic of Ireland set-up. ‘We’re hoping to have someone in place next week,’ said Lennon. ‘We’ve identified three or four options but I can’t say anything yet.’ Lennon confirmed the club had not received any offers for top scorer Odsonne Edouard or defender Kris Ajer, also linked with potential interest ‘We’ll do all we can to keep him happy for as long as possible,’ said Lennon of his French striker. ‘Will there be bids for Odsonne? I don’t know. There’s been no bids for anyone at the minute, which is pleasing because I want to maintain the continuity. It’s the same with Kris. There’s been talk but nothing has come in.’

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