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Neil Lennon: £12m Victor Wanyama will leave Celtic this summer
NEIL LENNON expects £12million-rated Victor Wanyama to leave Celtic this summer.
The Kenyan international has turned down a move to Premier League outfit Southampton and his representatives have been involved in a war of words with the Hoops – who they claim are trying to force a deal through.
Celtic boss Lennon insists that is not the case and the club have always acted in the best interests of the player – although he does believe his prize asset will depart before the close of the August transfer window. Asked if Wanyama will leave, Lennon said: “I would think it will get done.
“There is a bit of mud-slinging going on which we feel is unnecessary.
“We have done nothing wrong apart from accept a bid from a club for a player we value very highly.
“It is not up to us regarding a player’s negotiations, personal terms or the agent’s personal terms. The club made that pretty clear and I would like to echo that.”
Wanyama’s agent, Ivan Modia, claims Celtic haven’t offered the midfielder a pay rise and blocked a move to QPR last summer – but Lennon questions both those assertions.
“Everyone knows that we did offer him a contract extension and we did offer him a pay rise,” said Lennon. “But that was rejected. They have been pretty economical with the truth.
“I don’t even know if QPR made a bid last season. If they did, then it was nowhere near the valuation we have of Victor, so it never materialised.”