LENNY EYES FIVE RECRUITS

NEIL LENNON is hoping to be handed a chunk of Kieran Tierney’s £25million fee from Arsenal as he eyes FIVE new players before the Scotland transfer deadline.

The Celtic manager is prepared for a whirlwind 24 days of feverish activity before the window closes on Monday, September 2.

Lennon is determined to strengthen a squad for a crucial campaign at home and abroad with the coveted nine in a row in the club’s sights.

The Irishman has spent almost £12million – not even half of what the club took in for Tierney – in bringing in centre-half Christopher Jullien, £7million from Toulouse, left-back Boli Bolingoli, £3million from Rapid Vienna, right-sided defender Hatem Abd Elhamed, £1.2million from Hapoel Be’er Sheva, and midfielder Luca Connell, £350,000 from Bolton.

The Hoops gaffer reflected on the deal that took the fans’ favourite to London and, speaking to the Evening Times, said: “It’s a lot of money. I’ll be standing with my hands out!

“We’ll look to bring another left-back in, no question. And a right back, as well. And a left-winger. And a right-winger. And maybe a centre-forward.”

Lennon has already been linked with Scotland international new boy Greg Taylor, the Kilmarnock No.3, as CQN reported yesterday.

His fellow-Rugby Park team-mate Stephen O’Donnell, who started his career as Celtic youths, is another who may attract the Irishman as he continues his team rebuild.

He looked back at the Tierney move and added: “This is a brilliant advertisement for the club and the academy.

“We want to keep making Celtic an attractive proposition for any player. We feel we are making steps in the right direction on that.

“If we can get into the Champions League then we become a very attractive proposition for a lot of players.”

Scotland’s title kings are 90 minutes away from the play-off encounters with Slavia Prague as they eye the cash-rich group stages of Europe’s elite competition.

A smart goal from James Forrest earned the team a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their their third round qualifier against Cluj in Romania on Wednesday with the return due at a packed Parkhead on Tuesday.

The Czechs await the winners with the first game due on August 20/21 with the second match on 27/28.