Neil Lennon rubbishes Celtic transfer rumour in major blow

KILMARNOCK, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 09: Neil Lennon of Celtic reacts after the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match between Kilmarnock and Celtic at Rugby Park on August 09, 2020 in Kilmarnock, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
KILMARNOCK, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 09: Neil Lennon of Celtic reacts after the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match between Kilmarnock and Celtic at Rugby Park on August 09, 2020 in Kilmarnock, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Stories of an imminent deal for a new striker getting closer and closer to completion took a few steps back again today.

Transfer windows do this to you. Stories from credible sources tell you what’s happening, and then they turn out to be incorrect. As a basic rule, it’s best to believe nothing until it’s official and we see the pictures of the scarf overhead or the new Celtic top being worn by the player involved. But where’s the fun in that? Sometimes the anguish makes the signing even better when it happens.

Yesterday saw Sky Sports editor Anthony Joseph claiming Neil Lennon has again intervened in the discussions with West Ham misfit Albian Ajeti. Much to the delight of many Celtic fans the news that the Swiss striker was in Glasgow for a medical brought the potential completion of an exciting deal so much closer.

After Lennon’s press conference today, while other matters rightly took the forefront of the discussion, Radio Clyde sports reporter Alison Conroy shared her update on a couple of deals.

Neil Lennon did say discussions were still ongoing, Ajeti wasn’t in Glasgow and there wasn’t a medical lined up. Just when we all wanted some good news in amongst the doom and gloom.

As the tweet shows Lennon also indicated the Steven Fletcher situation is still ongoing and by no means a dead deal. Fans have been unconvinced by this one, but Fletcher would have provided a further option in the struggle to score against Kilmarnock at the weekend. He certainly is someone who offers something different than what we already have at the cclub.

Ajeti still remains a credible option though, let’s hope the Bolingoli shambles hasn’t persuaded him otherwise. It is only proposed as a loan initially so he and the club do have get out options if it doesn’t work out. Let’s get it done.