Brendan Rodgers has confirmed Celtic want to tie Johnny Kenny down to a new contract as they weigh up the striker’s next move.
Kenny netted the winner in Celtic’s pre-season opener against Queen’s Park on Friday night, and the Irishman’s future has been the subject of ongoing debate. A bid of around £500,000 was rejected last week, with the club believed to value him closer to the £1m mark.
But despite the interest, Rodgers sees value in the 22-year-old and wants him to commit his future to the club.
“I spoke to Johnny this morning about his plan,” Rodgers told SunSport. “We’d really like him to sign another deal with Celtic and decide on what’s going to be best for his development, whether it’s to stay or if he needs another step to go out.”
The striker has previously spent time out on loan in Ireland and with Queen’s Park, and Rodgers is now assessing whether another loan spell or staying put offers the best chance of growth.
Celtic have already bolstered their frontline with the arrival of Callum Osmand from Fulham, and are actively pursuing further reinforcements this summer. But Kenny’s instinctive finish on Friday was a reminder of his potential value – and Rodgers seems keen to keep that talent in the building.
Celtic are over in Ireland as they prepare to play Cork City on Tuesday in their second game of pre-season. He’ll likley be given some more minutes and a chnace to impress Brendan Rodgers.
