NEW CELTIC manager Neil Lennon has confirmed that he has spoken to Mikael Lustig about a new deal and wants the veteran Swedish full-back, who he brought to the club on a free transfer from Rosenborg in January 2012, to extend his time in Glasgow for an other two years to see out the push for Ten in a Row.
Both AIK Stockholm and Malmo are interested in signing Lustig if his time in Glasgow is up. At the moment he is out of contract and free to decide that enough is enough as far as his time at Celtic is concerned.
Lustig has stayed remarkably calm as the managerial upheaval at Celtic played itself out while he awaited news from the club on whether they wished to take up their one year option on his current contract.
Scotty Sinclair had a similar option on his deal which was activated as last season drew to a conclusion but many supporters feel at this was simply Celtic protecting their potential transfer fee. In Lustig’s case it’s his last few years playing the game so he either stays at Celtic or leaves for free to return home to Sweden.
Yesterday Neil Lennon indicated that Lustig is going to remain at Celtic – if he has anything to do with it.
“I have spoken to him, but not to his representatives. I had good feedback from Mika,” Lenny revealed to the media as reported by Scottish Sun.
“I would like him to stay. I think he still has a year or two in him. He has been a fantastic player for the club. He has been pivotal on and off the field.”
The same paper has also linked Neil Lennon with an interest in the highly rated Bolton teenage midfielder Luca Connell, who has had a number of Premier League clubs scouting him and would be available to Celtic on one of those low price cross-border tribunal fees, similar to the one paid to Fulham for Moussa Dembele.
That one worked out rather well and Celtic seem keen on repeating the trick with a number of similar options to Connell being looked at.
Wolves, Norwich and Sheffield United are credited with an interest in the Republic of Ireland teenager who has recently forced his was into Mick McCarthy’s national squad.
