Celtic FC manager Neil Lennon: Sir Alex Ferguson was not scouting Wanyama

Jan 26, 2013 4:24:00 PM

The Parkhead boss insists Utd's gaffer was merely a guest of Celtic at the Dundee United game - and was not there to court the Kenyan midfielder

Scottish giants’ Celtic manager Neil Lennon has dismissed reports that Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was scouting Kenya midfielder Victor Wanyama during the team’s 4-0 thrashing of Dundee United last Tuesday night.

Instead, the Parkhead boss insists Ferguson was merely a guest of Celtic at the Dundee United game — and was not there to court Wanyama.

"He (Ferguson) took in the game as a guest of the club and came in to see us afterwards and was in great form.” Lennon told Daily Mail. “I have huge admiration for him (Ferguson). He’s a great individual and the way he spoke at Sean Fallon’s eulogy was very impressive as well.”

“He came in and spoke to us for 30-40 minutes on football — but he didn’t put any bids in.”

Ferguson alongside former United great Bobby Charlton sat in the stands as Wanyama scored the second goal from a trade mark header during the 4-0 rout. Wanyama has on several occasions been linked with a move to United and his (Ferguson’s) presence during the match fueled further speculations.

Lennon is still confident that he will hold onto the player (Wanyama). “The last thing we want to do is succumb to a bid on the last hour or last day of the window, which gives us no chance to get any business done.”

“But we’ve made it clear that we don’t want that to happen, and I’m pretty sure it won’t — regardless of the offers coming in. If players are hot property now, they will be hot property in June. I think things will hot up in the next three or four days — it normally does.”

“We want him (Wanyama) to be here to play Juventus (in Uefa Champions League), to win the league and trophies.” Other top clubs rumored to be chasing Wanyama's signature include United rivals Arsenal and Manchester City