CELTIC’S hopes of making a move for Brentford left-back Rico Henry have been scuppered.
The England Under-20 international defender was on Neil Lennon’s summer radar as he searched for recruitments for the No.3 position with Kieran Tierney heading for Arsenal in a record-breaking £25million switch.
Back-up Emilio Izaguirre also left the eight-in-a-row champions at the end of his contract in June to return to Honduras.
Henry had been highly recommended to the Hoops, but the Championship side have moved swiftly to thwart any move for the £7million-rated full-back and he agreed a new four-year deal last night to extend his stay until 2023.
Head coach Thomas Frank, speaking to BBC Sport, said: “Rico can be the best full-back or wing-back in the league and I look forward to seeing what he has to come.”
Lennon is still keeping tabs on Kilmarnock’s newly-capped Scotland international left-back Greg Taylor, but the champions are unlikely to pay the £3million the Ayrshire outfit are asking for the 21-year-old ace.
Jack Hendry, out in the cold at Parkhead, could be used as part of any proposed deal for the Rugby Park player.
Birger Meling is another option and, with Rosenborg 2-0 down in their Champions League play-off with Dinamo Zagreb, the club could be open to a deal for the 10 times-capped Norwegian international if they exit Europe’s elite tournament.
