No Fletcher move from Celtic Celtic manager Neil Lennon has rebuffed speculation linking the club with Scotland international Steven Fletcher. Last Updated: 03/01/14 at 15:42 Post Comment Media reports in Scotland claimed Celtic were preparing a bid of £6m for the Sunderland striker this month. When asked if the Scottish champions were poised to sign the former Hibernian favourite, Lennon said: "It's just speculation and I can't say any more than that. "He is a player that I think most teams in Britain would like but affordability may be a problem for us." The Hoops boss refused to be drawn on any potential targets, and insists the club will conduct business privately. Lennon did indicate he has extra money available should he wish to splash out in the January window. "I can't say anything about the players we're being linked with," the Northern Irishman added. "There are 31 days of this and the names will keep coming thick and fast. "But what we do is we will do our business as quietly as we can and when we sign a player we will let you (the press) know.
WEST HAM UNITED have joined the growing list of clubs interested in landing Steven Fletcher this month despite Gus Poyet’s insistence that he wants the Scotland striker to stay at Sunderland. Celtic and Hull City are both keeping an eye on the situation at the Stadium of Light, where Poyet is keen to make adjustments to his squad in the hope of leading a revival. Fletcher represents one of Sunderland’s most saleable assets and the extra finance would certainly help the head coach when he makes his moves in the transfer market. But Poyet indicated he wants to keep Fletcher, although did concede that every member of his squad would have a valuation and the £12m striker is no different. “Of course I don’t want to sell Fletcher,” said Poyet. “He’s our top scorer and he’s the one who is going to score the goals and make the difference. “I’m not going to talk about names but I remember when Chelsea were buying players under Claudio Ranieri and paying over the top by £10m ... we would sell. If someone comes with £25m or £30m then pick a name.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25604320 I am interested in Ronaldo. Apparently, he doesn't want to come to Sunderland - it's too cold Gus Poyet Sunderland manager
Bloody hell, someone else who strays from Sky's spoonfeeding of EPL and La Liga being the only leagues to watch... Hull fan in peace, I've watched Immobile closely since he top scored for Juve a few years back at the annual u17 tournament in Italy classed as the world's best. I've bleated on our board every summer about how we should sign him as the next Christian Vieri and the only surprise for me is that Juve don't take him back (they co-own him at present) as he's easily superior as back-up to Tevez and Lorente compared to Vucinic, Giovinco et al. He's brilliant and will be a real world star one day, he might even make the Azzurri squad for Brazil, and I'd be gutted if you got him.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25604320 Steven Fletcher's agent says there has been no approach from Celtic regarding the Sunderland striker but claims there is interest from top English clubs. Celtic manager Neil Lennon admitted on Friday that he would be interested in the 26-year-old if he became available at a price his club could afford. "There has been no contact from Celtic regarding Steven Fletcher," Scott Fisher told BBC Scotland. "There is also interest from other English Premier League clubs." “ I am interested in Ronaldo. Apparently, he doesn't want to come to Sunderland - it's too cold ” Gus Poyet Sunderland manager Fletcher, capped 13 times for Scotland, was sold to Sunderland by Wolves for £14m in 2012. Injuries have restricted his first-team starts this season and he has scored three goals in 18 appearances. Fletcher has been in and out of the starting 11 since Gus Poyet replaced Paolo di Canio as manager, but the Scot's agent said: "He is still a Sunderland player until they decide otherwise." Indeed, responding to the reported interest from Hull City as well as Celtic, Poyet said he had no desire to sell the man he regards as the top goalscorer at the club and one capable of helping them avoid relegation. The Sunderland manager was quoted as qualifying that with the admission that any of his players would be available should he receive a bid of £25m-30m. "They didn't call me and they didn't make any offers, so it is speculation, rumours," the Uruguayan said, joking that he was similarly interested in Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo. "It's easy. I am interested in Ronaldo. Apparently, he doesn't want to come to Sunderland - it's too cold. "We can say and talk and make opinions and go on TV and make it look incredible, that we want to buy this and that. "But do it and then we will talk about it." Lennon admitted that Celtic could afford to pay about £6m for a single player but placed doubts on the Scottish champions' ability to match the wages demanded by a top player like Fletcher coming from England's top flight.
It will be even harder to beat the two seventh places under Reid then! It's our fate as Sunderland supporters, two seventh places, then 17th, then with the lowest points at the time 20th on 19 points.
I excluded the 7th's under Reid as a) We've been down since, and b) It had nothing to do with Ellis, my main point.
Tottenham Hotspur are among a clutch of English Premier League clubs monitoring the transfer developments surrounding Steven Fletcher — a move which could be the greatest threat to Celtic attempting to land the striker this month. The Scottish champions have been left to weigh up the merits of committing to an expensive package for the forward as it is understood Fletcher would consider returning north of the border if the price was right. The 26-year-old is intrigued by the prospect of Celtic, where there lies the lure of Champions League football. However, while Parkhead boss Neil Lennon has revealed his club would be prepared to make a £6million signing now, Sunderland will want around £10m for Fletcher — and that’s just one of the barriers in the way of Celtic’s pursuit, unless they are prepared to break into new transfer-market territory.
Hull City launched their pursuit of Steven Fletcher, the Sunderland striker, with an offer rising to £8 million last night. While the bid was rejected, Steve Bruce, the manager, is likely to return with an improved bid. Fletcher is surplus to requirements, but Sunderland are demanding a fee nearer to the £12 million that they paid Wolverhampton Wanderers for the26-year-old 18 months ago. He has scored 14 league goals, three of them struck this season for the bottom side http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport...e3967732.ece?CMP=OTH-gnws-standard-2014_01_06
