Celtic left in limbo over deal for Ledley
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Ronnie Cully
ronnie.cully@heraldandtimes.co.ukShare 0 comments 9 Jul 2010
MYSTERY surrounded the proposed transfer of Joe Ledley to Celtic last night after the Welsh midfielder flew back to Cardiff without having signed the four-year contract offered to him by the Parkhead club.
His agent, Dave Baldwin, would only confirm that his player was heading home without having put pen to paper, and that the reasons were “personal”.
Ledley’s mother has been ill, and the speculation was that this could possibly have been behind the reason for his swift about-turn. It was an unexpected turn of events at the end of a day which had indicated the 23-year-old was inching his way towards becoming Neil Lennon’s third signing of the summer.
With personal terms of £25,000 per week already agreed, a medical was conducted, which was reported to have thrown up no obstacles to the deal being concluded.
Ledley was expected to be unveiled at a press conference today, and to be included in the Celtic party which travels to America on Monday.
He could still make that trip, if his personal issues can be resolved and he can return to Glasgow to complete the paperwork already drawn up.
However, until his name is on a contract, Lennon and chief executive Peter Lawwell will be wary that the door remains open for Stoke City to rekindle their interest.
That would suit Cardiff, to whom Ledley was under contract until last week. The Welsh club would then qualify for around £3m compensation, a windfall they would be denied if he joined a club like Celtic who operate outwith their association.
The financially-stricken Welsh club are understood to be prepared to pursue a case for compensation if Ledley does sign for Celtic as they believe the rules are open to interpretation, with appeals to UEFA and FIFA mentioned.
However, Parkhead officials are confident that they have done their homework and that they would not be liable for any compensation for the player.
While Celtic wait to see if Ledley is coming back, they are also left in limbo with regard to the departure of Stephen McManus, whom they have agreed to sell to Middlesbrough.
Another day of negotiation between the Riverside club and the 27-year-old defender’s representatives again failed to find a resolution to the impasse over the terms of the three-year-deal which remains on the table.
If McManus does head south, the £2m Celtic receive will be quickly turned around, and Stoke’s Liam Lawrence and Scunthorpe’s Gary Hooper remain on Lennon’s wanted list.
Striker Hooper must decide if he wants to join Celtic or Middlesbrough, and only when the 22-year-old indicates where he wants to play will that club begin serious negotiations with the Scunthorpe, who hope to receive £2.5m for their prize asset.
It would take around £2m to persuade Stoke to allow midfielder Lawrence to move to Parkhead, and this transfer looks like being a slow burner which may not fully ignite until the future of Aiden McGeady is determined.
Sol Campbell, who has already been offered a two-year contract by Celtic, is now being courted by Sunderland, and is expected to have talks with Steve Bruce about a move there.
Newcastle are also ready to throw their hat into the ring for the 35-year-old Bosman, who would like to make a decision on his future before he gets married next weekend.
Lennon has made the former Arsenal captain a priority signing, but has lined up alternative defenders. Included among them is Nottingham Forest’s Kelvin Wilson, who impressed Lennon when the Celtic manager travelled south to watch the 24-year-old last season.
Jimmy Bullard – who Lennon provided with tickets for the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond yesterday – is still mulling over the one-season loan deal proposed by Celtic, and is expected to give his answer over the weekend.
Decisions on Slaven Stjepanovic and George Boateng, who have been on trial at Lennoxtown this week, are also imminent, and Cliftonville’s Liam Boyce has joined the ranks of the players being put under the microscope at the club.
The 19 year-old striker had a sensational season in Northern Ireland with the Carling Premiership runners-up and has attracted a lot if interest from clubs in England, but jumped at the chance when invited by Lennon to try out at Lennoxtown.