Celtic boss Lennon: Wanyama worth £25m

26-Oct-2012 8:15:00 PM

Boss of Scottish champions values talented youngster highly and thinks he has "the world at his feet", but insists the club will keep him despite the recent stalled contract talks

Celtic manager Neil Lennon has stated that midfield starlet Victor Wanyama is worth £25 million.

The Bhoys' boss – himself a former midfielder for the Glasgow club – believes Wanyama has the quality to play for the biggest clubs in the world stage and confirmed that contract negotiations with the player had fallen through.

Goal.com understands that Manchester United have indeed scouted the player on more than one occasion, but that any talk of a formal move is premature and not in the pipeline at this stage.

But Lennon was also keen to state that his club are not in a position where they have to sell the 21-year-old.

"£25m," Lennon told reporters when asked the value of his player. "Wanyama has the world at his feet.

"But his feet are here and they won't be going anywhere unless we say so."

Wanyama has been at Hampden Park since July 2011 when he moved from Belgian club Beerschot, but his agent had recently gone public over the failed contract talks.

Lennon continued: "A month ago, he went on record saying how happy he was here and I have no reason not to believe that."

However, if Wanyama was to move, Lennon believes there would be no shortage of top clubs desiring his signature.

Asked if Lennon thought the midfielder was good enough to play for Barcelona – who beat Celtic 2-1 thanks to a late Jordi Alba winner on Tuesday - Lennon responded: "I think he is, yes."

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