Jens Berthel Askou has confirmed that Lennon Miller is not currently part of his planning at Motherwell, as uncertainty continues to swirl around the teenager’s future.
The Danish coach, who recently took the reins at Fir Park following Michael Wimmer’s return to Germany, was clear when asked about the Scotland international. While Miller remains one of the most talented prospects in the country, Askou was forthright in saying he’s preparing for the new season without factoring the midfielder into his first-team plans.
Speaking to the media for the first time as Motherwell gaffer, he said, “It would be naive to say, ‘No he’s staying, we’re not planning without him’. That’s how it is when you have a player with so much attention.
“Right now, he’s here — even though he’s away on a bit of a holiday — and as long as he’s here, we’ll work with him and we’ll plan with him here.
“But we also know there might be a possibility the right move and the right opportunity for him at the top will come.
“Then we are prepared to do something, like we are in other situations if we lose players to an injury or we sell them.” [SunSport]
It comes amid ongoing speculation linking Miller with a move away from Lanarkshire. CeltsAreHere exclusively revealed last week that while Celtic still admire the young midfielder, they have not made a new approach this summer. The Hoops previously explored a deal in January, holding internal discussions before deciding not to test Motherwell’s resolve at the time.
Since then, Miller’s stock has continued to rise, capped off by his senior Scotland debut against Iceland. Despite that, Celtic have not reignited talks and are monitoring the situation from a distance. English sides remain interested, but no formal bids have been lodged.
A key factor is the midfielder’s contract situation. With just one year remaining, Motherwell could be forced into a decision soon. However, sources suggest the club have yet to define a firm asking price, and there’s a growing belief that the ideal moment to cash in may already have passed.
For now, no negotiations are active and suggestions that a Celtic offer is imminent are premature. Askou’s admission adds weight to the notion that Motherwell are bracing for a future without Miller, but where he ends up remains very much up in the air.
