OPINION
Neil Lennon has already started to target players to strengthen his Celtic side ahead of a push for a ninth consecutive Scottish Premier League title next season.
The Hoops’ midfield seems to be an area where Lennon would like to strengthen after it was revealed that Celtic have had a bid turned down for Motherwell starlet David Turnbull [Source: BBC].
Before Celtic can reinforce the middle of the park, they must take care and make sure that their current midfield isn’t sold according to Jackie McNamara, amid strong interest for Frenchmen Olivier Ntcham from Marseille.
It was revealed by French journalist Robin Bairner, that the Ligue 1 club would need to sell players in order to sign Ntcham, who Celtic have valued at £15million.
Former Hoops ace, Jackie McNamara admitted to Football Insider, his doubts surrounding the deal: “He’s linked with that before, they must think they’ll get that for him, with his age and everything else. It remains to be seen if they get that, recoup that money for him.”
The 23-year-old only arrived at the club for £3.5million [Source: BBC] from Manchester City, and his reported asking price would see them quadruple their money on the midfielder.
Despite McNamara’s concerns, Neil Lennon must not think twice in showing Ntcham to the exit door should Marseille meet their asking price, as he could replace the midfielder with many younger players that are full of more potential than Ntcham was when he arrived.
Turnbull, 19, would be the perfect start in replacing the Hoops’ midfielder, and would only reportedly require a £3million spend to tempt him away from Fir Park over the summer.
Ntcham only started 42 per cent of Celtic’s league fixtures this season and £15million for a player mostly employed off the bench could be the best piece of business the Hoops have done in years.