Celtic manager Neil Lennon has no idea if he will be able to convince Joe Ledley and Georgios Samaras to to sign the new deals on offer. The pair have yet to reveal if they want to stay at Celtic Park. The game of brinkmanship always starts around six months ahead of a deal coming to an end. Sometimes it is the club that has the whip-hand and sometimes it is the player. Celtic are keen for the pair to stay but both players will be looking at all the options to see what is best for them and their families.
When asked if he believes the duo may leave Celtic in the January transfer window, Lennon said: "The honest answer would be, realistically, yes. The contracts are up in the summer. We are getting to the point where there will be a lot of speculation about both players but we have made it clear that we are willing to speak to them and we have spoken to Joe already but we have had nothing back. (They are) two players that we don't want to go but we can't force them to stay although we are doing everything we can at the minute to do that. But we have had no indication of what the players want to do. The ball is very much in their court at the minute. We are planning for next season anyway but obviously we would like some indication of what they are going to do. It is a difficult situation for us and for them. I spoke to them both personally a while back but I have had nothing back since. I have no idea if there are any offers for them, any interest in them. We have had no phone calls for them."
