Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou has addressed the growing speculation around the future of Lennon Miller, amid continued links with Celtic.
Celtic are long-standing admirers of the Fir Park youngster, who burst onto the scene two seasons ago and has continued to impress with his maturity and composure in midfield.
Miller made 39 appearances last season for Motherwell and was rewarded with his senior Scotland debut in June, turning in a composed display in a 4-0 win over Liechtenstein.
Askou, who recently took charge at Fir Park, admitted that while there’s no immediate movement on Miller’s future, the club is well aware that the situation could develop swiftly in the current transfer window.
He said: (RecordSport), “In general, there has been obviously a lot of interest and it’s busy around Lennon, nothing concrete right now, but it could change quickly.
“That’s a lot of interest, a lot of a lot of manoeuvring around the market around him. I think he’s dealing with it really, really well. He’s just playing football and really enjoying what we’re doing here.
“I spoke to him just an hour ago. He’s really pleased with the role he has in the team now and what we are trying to do because it suits him really, really well and he will develop. But we also know that the time will come when he will take the next step. And if it’s this summer, then the time will tell. But it could be.
“It’s not like he’s knocking on my door every day and saying I need to leave. Not at all. But we know he’s a fantastic football player, a very, very big talent that you don’t see very often. So we know the day will come.
“We will announce that when it’s the right time to announce whether there’s something specific on him. But there’s a general interest from the market in Lennon, and there has been also before my time here, and that interest has not slowed down.
“It’s still there and it’s increasing more and more as clubs get more and more active. And obviously there are some other people also dealing with that within the club that maybe knows a little bit more than I do. And so when the time is right, we will announce.
“Until then, we’ll try to just make sure that he gets the best opportunity to be part of Motherwell and perform for us and focus on his development.”
The midfielder has caught the eye not only for his technical ability but for the confidence and maturity he displays on the park. Celtic have monitored his progress closely, and with Brendan Rodgers keen to inject fresh youth into his midfield options, Miller is a name that continues to surface in transfer discussions.
Motherwell are understandably keen to hold onto their prize asset for as long as possible, but Askou’s comments suggest an awareness that the club may not be able to resist a significant offer, especially if Miller himself feels ready to make the next step.
With the transfer window now in full swing, any move would likely come swiftly should Celtic or another suitor choose to act. For now, though, the teenager remains grounded and focused on his football.
As always in these scenarios, timing will be key, and if Celtic are serious about landing one of Scotland’s top young prospects, they may need to act before the market intensifies further.
