Lennon backs Celts’ plan for life after Edouard

NEIL LENNON last night insisted Celtic will be fully prepared in the event of striker Odsonne Edouard being the subject of an irresistible transfer bid.

Scotland’s reigning Player of the Year, Edouard is set to lead the line as the champions kick off their bid for a 10th successive title against Hamilton today but the Frenchman has not yet been persuaded to sign a new contract that would stave off a sale for at least another year.

With the summer transfer window extended to an October deadline, Lennon acknowledges that Celtic could be susceptible to an offer for Edouard, 22, over the coming weeks.

The club have been active in pursuing fresh attacking options. A loan move for West Ham’s Albian Ajeti foundered, while a £4million bid for Peterborough’s Ivan Toney was turned down.

Lennon remains committed to keeping Edouard, scorer of 28 club goals last term, but after instigating talks on a new deal earlier this year, progress has stalled.

The manager said: ‘It’s as you were with contract talks, there has been no further movement one way or another on it.

‘Whether it’s Edouard or any other player, in previous years we sold guys like Moussa Dembele and Kieran Tierney — it’s not something we won’t be prepared for.

‘It’s not something that we

want but there may be speculation surrounding a number of our players, so we have to plan ahead.

‘That’s what we do, it’s like a circular motion — we have to keep the wheels moving and be prepared for any eventuality when the market opens.

‘It’s going to be a long transfer window. There will be pros and cons — sometimes that can work in your favour, other times to your detriment. We’ll have to adapt to that and be patient.’

Lennon has made two signings this summer in the shape of a new loan deal for Southampton’s Mohamed Elyounoussi and the £5m capture of goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas.

Although broadly happy with the depth of his squad, he still covets extra cover as the team beds in for an intense fixture schedule that will add the conclusion of last term’s Scottish Cup to the normal domestic and European demands.

Although the extended window may leave the club vulnerable to a predatory bid, it also gives Lennon the chance to address any problems he encounters over the opening two months of the season.

He added: ‘It’s going to be a really heavy programme and we will need strength in depth.

‘We’ve tried to keep continuity by not making wholesale changes because I didn’t think we needed to but we want to add a couple more to the squad.

‘I’m really happy with the quality of the squad and I think there is more to come from them this season.

‘As your season is into its flow you might be able to bring in a player you need in a certain position. That’s an advantage from our point of view and something new.

‘The detrimental side is you just don’t know; a club could come in and show real interest in one of your players and then you have to play a waiting game.

‘Now the major leagues are winding down and preparing for the season coming, it’ll be interesting to see how the market looks.

‘There doesn’t seem to be a drop in terms of the major clubs and buying major players. There may be a drip-down effect from that.’

Celtic were in relentless form before last season was halted, opening up a 13-point gap over Rangers at the top of the Premiership.

After an extended period of hibernation, Lennon knows his players must build up a new head of steam.

He continued: ‘It’s not going to be a case of picking up from where we left off because we’re four or five months down the line.

‘At the start of the season the priority is always to win the title — whether it’s your tenth or your first.

‘For the likes of Jeremie Frimpong and Christopher Jullien — although they won it last season, they haven’t experienced going the full season.

‘There’s a real extra incentive for these guys to help the rest of the squad over the line.’