NIR BITTON is currently in talks with Celtic about extending his contract and Neil Lennon is keen to get this sorted before the transfer window opens at the end of the month.
Burnley manager Sean Dyche is reported to be keen on signing the 27 year old Israeli international who can play as a sitting midfielder or in central defence. However Lenny is determined to keep Bitton, whose current contract runs out at the end of the season, and hopes that pen will be put to paper before the end of the month.
“We don’t want him to go, we want him to stay,” Lenny said to the Media as reported by Scotsman. “So, talks are on-going.
“We don’t want him to run down his contract, for sure. He’s made indications he would like to stay and that’s what we want too.
“We’ll see how that pans out. Nir’s happy here and we’re hoping we’ll get a positive resolution to that as we go along.”
After the Europa League win against Rennes on Thursday night, Neil Lennon must ensure that there is no slip-ups in the Premiership match at Dingwall in the lunchtime kick-off against Ross County. We’ve had our problems in the Highlands in the past, as both Neil Lennon and Nir Bitton are well aware.
“I think in the main we’ve handled the Thursday-Sunday games pretty well,” the Celtic boss said. “But, yes, the recovery and the travelling and then the early kick-off – we have to be spot on.
“We can’t use any excuses, it’s just the totting up of the games and we want to be in all the competitions.
“The way they’re playing, the atmosphere’s good and we’re looking forward to it.”
Bitton could feature today and Jeremie Frimpong, who was not named in the Europa League squad, is likely to return. Tom Rogic, on the bench on Thursday night could also play and Greg Taylor, who is cup-tied for the first ever League Cup Final next Sunday against the Rangers, is set to continue in this side after an impressive start to his time in the Hoops.
That left back role for next Sunday is at this stage a concern with Taylor cup-tied and both Jonny Hayes and Boli Bolingoli injured. Hopefully one of the two will make it.
