---
title: "Celtic: James Forrest not for sale, says Neil Lennon"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-james-forrest-not-for-sale-says-neil-lennon/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "SPFL News"
published: "2019-08-14T20:40:28Z"
modified: "2019-08-14T20:40:28Z"
---

# Celtic: James Forrest not for sale, says Neil Lennon

**Celtic manager Neil Lennon insists that the club have no intention of selling winger James Forrest in the current transfer window.**

The [Daily Record](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/james-forrest-transfer-latest-celtic-18920128) reported that Lennon has included the 28-year-old among a group of players who he considers “[untouchable](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/james-forrest-transfer-latest-celtic-18920128)“, along with Callum McGregor, Jozo Simunovic, Kristoffer Ajer and Scott Brown.

The [Scottish Sun](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/4596596/scott-brown-zenit-james-forrest-celtic/) reported that Zenit St Petersburg had been preparing a bid of £12m and weekly wages of £70,000 for Forrest, but the Celtic manager is in no mood to entertain the Russian club’s offer.

The [Daily Record](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/james-forrest-transfer-latest-celtic-18920128) quoted Lennon as saying: “We are looking to add to the squad rather than selling any more of our important players and James certainly falls into that category.”

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

Forrest is the current holder of the [PFA Scotland, Scottish Football Writers’ and SPFL Player of the Year](https://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/17659658.celtic-winger-james-forrest-completes-personal-treble-by-winning-ladbrokes-premiership-player-of-the-year//) awards, testifying to his importance for the Hoops.

His tally of [18 goals in 56 games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-fc/leistungsdaten/verein/371/reldata/%262018/plus/1) last season (one per 3.11 games) was [bettered only by Odsonne Edouard at Celtic](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-fc/leistungsdaten/verein/371/reldata/%262018/plus/1), the French striker netting [22 times in 52 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-fc/leistungsdaten/verein/371/reldata/%262018/plus/1) (one per 2.36 games), and he had the [highest assists tally at the club in 2018/19 with 20](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-fc/leistungsdaten/verein/371/reldata/%262018/plus/1) (one per 2.8 games).

He has scored in [each of Celtic’s last three games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-forrest/leistungsdaten/spieler/84992), including both legs of the Champions League qualifier against CFR Cluj, and has already chipped in with [three assists in the Hoops’ two Premiership games so far](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-forrest/leistungsdaten/spieler/84992) this season.

Forrest was one of the [few players to emerge with credit](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/celtic-player-ratings-against-cluj-16750362) from last night’s defeat to CFR Cluj, with [Read Celtic](https://readceltic.com/2019/08/13/celtic-player-ratings-cfr-cluj-h/) saying that he was “[confident on the ball on the wing and showed superb composure](https://readceltic.com/2019/08/13/celtic-player-ratings-cfr-cluj-h/)” for his goal.

Gabriel McKay of [Football Scotland](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/celtic-player-ratings-against-cluj-16750362) awarded him a rating of seven from that game and said that he “[has become a real leader for Celtic](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/celtic-player-ratings-against-cluj-16750362)“.

So far this season, only two players ([Ryan Christie with eight goals and Edouard with four](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-fc/leistungsdaten/verein/371/plus/1?reldata=%262019)) have [scored more often](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-fc/leistungsdaten/verein/371/plus/1?reldata=%262019) for the Hoops, while [only Edouard has more assists (four) than Forrest’s three](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-fc/leistungsdaten/verein/371/plus/1?reldata=%262019).

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

Forrest is picking up where he left off last season with a consistent scoring and assists return for Celtic, so it’s easy to see why Lennon has issued a hands-off warning to prospective suitors.

The Hoops have already sold one key player this month in [Kieran Tierney](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49283667), so losing Forrest would likely be another significant blow to the club.

Although the failure to secure Champions League football is [set to impact the club’s finances negatively](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/what-celtics-champions-league-exit-means-for-the-club-38403069.html), Lennon must continue to stand firm on his stance with Forrest and not deprive the team of his vital contributions.

***Celtic fans, do you think the club will hang on to Forrest in this transfer window? Share your views in the comments section below!***