Neil Lennon is not counting out Celtic keeping defenders Dedryck Boyata and Mikael Lustig at Celtic this summer, despite both their contracts expiring, according to The Daily Record.
Boyata has been an expected departure ever since the transfer drama surrounding the player last summer, while Lustig had become something of a bit part player prior to Lennon’s arrival.
The paper report that both players have been offered new deals at Celtic Park, which have been rejected.
However, the new Hoops boss is not writing either off, hoping to have an influence on both players sticking around.
As quoted by The Daily Record, Neil Lennon said:
We will sit down and discuss things. If things go well then they are important players. Boyata was outstanding for me the other night at Hearts, outstanding, and I like him a lot. I like him as a player.
I’m not writing Lustig off. I know what he is capable of and what a player he is. What Mikael has done for the last seven or eight years is play non-stop football.
Whether it be 40 or 50 games a season here or European qualifiers, World Cup qualifiers, finals. He has been through the rigours of a physically demanding season.
He has been playing every game possible and eventually the fatigue or stiffness or whatever you want to call it creeps in. But this guy has been a top top player for this club and a top player for his country as well and I think he’s got plenty to offer Celtic.
Most Celtic fans would probably love to see Boyata stay given his quality and commitment this season, after the debacle that saw him refuse to play against AEK Athens.
Since then he’s done little wrong in a Hoops shirt and has been one of our most consistent performers throughout the campaign.
Lustig is perhaps another matter, with many feeling he is well past his best, although it’s heartening to hear that Neil Lennon will at least assess the situation thoroughly and perhaps have some sort of influence on his future.
Will both still be at the club this time next season?