Lennon looking to add

Neil Lennon: Hoping to add while fending off interest in Celtic's top talents

Neil Lennon is hoping to bring further fresh faces into his Celtic squad this summer, while admitting that sales may have to be sanctioned.

The Parkhead playing staff has been trimmed since the end of last season, with the likes of Daniel Majstorovic, Glenn Loovens, Mark Wilson, Efrain Juarez, Niall McGinn and Darren O'Dea moving on.

Fraser Forster, who has spent the last two seasons on loan at the club, has been the only permanent addition so far.

Lennon has confirmed that he is planning on bolstering his ranks throughout the transfer window, but is keen to point out that he will not be spending for the sake of it.

He said: "We have trimmed the squad considerably. We don't want to make wholesale changes.

"We're always looking, if we feel we are getting a good player for value for money, we will always look at it."

Lennon does not have the challenge of Rangers or Old Firm derbies to sell the club to prospective signings, but he feels the UEFA Champions League and the club's stature can still attract top targets.

Reputation

"We have signed Fraser on a four-year contract and I didn't think that was a major issue," he said.

"We are a big name, we've got a big reputation and obviously progress in Europe would enhance that."

South Korea international Ki Sung-yueng and Kenya midfielder Victor Wanyama have both been quoted this summer as saying they would like to test themselves in a more high-profile league.

That has clearly irked Lennon, but he admits occasionally selling players for big money is part of the club's development plan.

"I'm a bit annoyed because when players are on international business, they shouldn't be talking about club business," he said.

"But it was the same with Aiden McGeady a couple of years ago. He was a fabulous player here and a very important player but we got an offer that was good business.

"Every other player, regardless of whether it's Ki, Victor, Gary (Hooper), Fraser, Adam Matthews, Emilio (Izaguirre), they are all in the same boat.

"Every player has his price and sometimes you have to move players on for their future and the benefit of the club."