NEIL LENNON SAYS he’s determined to keep Ireland international Anthony Stokes at Celtic Park next season.
The Parkhead boss was in Dublin yesterday to help promote the meeting of the SPL champions and Liverpool at the Aviva Stadium in August.
“We’ve already made him an offer,” Lennon said when asked about the Dubliner’s future in Glasgow, “he’s knocked that back but, you know, negotiations will be ongoing.
“[We] really saw the best of him towards the end of the season, he looks physically in the best shape he’s ever been in I think. The four-month cycle of the ankle injury and missing all those European games really made him realise what he’s missing here.”
Stokes is understood to be unimpressed with the proposed terms of the deal. The former Arsenal trainee endured a frustrating campaign before he ultimately won back his starting place before winning the man-of-the-match award in the Scottish Cup final.
If he does remain with the Bhoys, Stokes could be paired with Celtic target and fellow Irish forward Kevin Doyle. Lennon admitted to reporters yesterday that the newly-relegated — to League One — Wolves skipper is a target for the club this summer.
