Interim Celtic boss Neil Lennon is fighting a losing battle if he believes he can convince Dedryck Boyata to stay on at Celtic beyond the summer.
The Belgian has made his feelings clear and so has his agent ever since the bust-up with Brendan Rodgers back in the summer when the defender was not allowed to leave for Fulham.
Rodgers insisted Celtic keep the defender and turn down big money for the player so he could stay and do a job for the bhoys until the end of his contract.
The World Cup star has been very professional but has never once hinted he would sign a new deal and his agent scoffed at the notion he would even have talks with the club back in December.
However, Neil Lennon is going to try and persuade the Belgian to sign a new deal.
Speaking about Boyata and Lustig Lenny told CelticTV: “We will sit down and discuss things.
“If things go well then they are important players.
“Boyata was outstanding for me the other night at Hearts, outstanding, and I like him a lot. I like him as a player.”
This may be one fight Neil will be unable to win if he wants the player to stay at the club
