Report details stumbling block to Celtic securing transfer of £18,000-a-week midfielder
By Will Butcher
Kris Commons is expected to remain with Celtic this month despite strong interest from Hibernian, according to a report.
The Daily Record‘s transfer news blog (1.58pm, January 16) claims the Scottish Championship club are keen on extending the loan of the playmaker for the rest of the season.
But it is said that the main stumbling block to a deal is Commons’ £18,000-a-week Celtic contract, which runs out in the summer.
Celtic’s attacking midfielder is in no hurry to walk away from his lucrative contract which expires on June 30 of this year and that could prevent a second loan move to Hibs.
Commons, 33, has been on loan with Lennon’s second-tier side since the middle of December, after Hibs agreed a one-month emergency loan deal until January 15.
Signing off with the winning goal against Dumbarton in Hibs’ 1-0 away victory on Sunday, Lennon is believed to be desperate to keep the playmaker at Easter Road.
Remaining six points clear in the Scottish Championship, former Hoops midfielder Lennon wanted Commons to stay to continue to inspire his side to a return to the Scottish top flight.
During his five games with Lennon’s outfit, Commons scored twice and provided another two assists as he inspired his temporary side to 11 points from 15.
Football Insider verdict:
Celtic should allow Commons to rejoin Hibernian or leave on loan elsewhere in order to prevent the former Derby midfielder’s career from stagnating under manager Brendan Rodgers. Yet to play for the 47-time Scottish champions, Commons is unlikely to feature at all for Celtic this season with Tom Rogic occupying the number 10 role at Parkhead. Allowing him to rejoin Lennon’s Hibs will also help Commons attract new clubs to invest in his services, with a new contract almost certainly not on the horizon under Rodgers. A loan move should be sanctioned by Celtic, but at the moment it seems unlikely that they will be willing to do so.
In other Celtic transfer news, Rodgers is in talks to confirm a deal for this £12million forward.
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