David James interested in making Celtic move
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David James interested in making Celtic move
Neil Lennon says it is "very encouraging" that England goalkeeper David James has expressed an interest in joining Celtic on a free transfer this summer.
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David James counts Liverpool and Man City amongst his former clubs
James is a free agent following the expiration of his contract at Portsmouth and his agent has approached Celtic following the sale of their established No. 1 Artur Boruc to Fiorentina.
Lennon now hopes to sell Celtic to the 39-year-old and has expressed a firm interest in bringing James to the club.
"We are still a long way off and it's early days in terms of negotiation," Lennon said. "But just the fact he is interested is very encouraging from our point of view. I want to get the best goalkeeper I possibly can. Not only for the league and Europe but also someone who can fill Artur's shoes - and he's one who can.
"He will come up and have a look and see if he fancies it. I'd like to speak to him myself and see what he is thinking, but the fact they have made the initial contact is very encouraging."
James' agent Colin Gordon told the Daily Mail: "I contacted Celtic after what happened with Boruc and we are really just waiting for Neil Lennon and Celtic to come back from America to see if it's something we can progress. So there is an interest but nothing more than that at the moment."
Portsmouth, currently in administration and preparing for life in the Championship, have announced that they have withdrawn their contract offer to the goalkeeper.
Pompey chief executive David Lampitt told BBC Radio Solent: "We have done everything we possibly could. Our first preference would have been to keep hold of him, but unfortunately in these circumstances we can't always get over the line with these things."