CELTIC have missed out one of Neil Lennon’s top targets after Rekeem Harper committed his future to West Brom.
The Celtic manager scouted the midfielder at the Championship Play-off semi-Final against Aston Villa in May before inviting Harper and his agent to Celtic Park for the Trophy Day match against Hearts.
Harper was running down his contract at the Hawthorns and would have been available on a small cross border fee, had he opted for Parkhead and the Champions League rather than another stint in the second tier of English football.
West Brom had a pop at Neil Lennon over his treatment of Oli Burke, their £15million signing from RB Leipzig who spent the second half of last season on loan at Celtic, having failed to establish himself in their side.
Now though the 19 year old has agreed to a three year deal that will keep him at the Hawthorns until 2022.
Missing out on Harper will be a blow to Neil Lennon after the unfortunate circumstances that emerged at David Turnbull’s medical. He has now had the precautionary knee surgery and should be back in action by the end of the year.
That would allow Celtic to complete the £3.25million deal.
In the meantime activity around Luton right back James Stacey has intensified with the breaking news on Sky Sports that Bournemouth have had a £2.5million bid rejected.
Celtic’s intentions concerning Stacey are about to become clear, with a £3million bid imminent. Stay tuned for updates.
