Neil Lennon: 'Gary Hooper is going nowhere'

Celtic manager Neil Lennon has insisted that Gary Hooper is 'going nowhere' after the striker was linked with Liverpool.

Hooper has scored 60 goals in 100 appearances for the SPL champions over the past two years, and although Lennon acknowledges that Hooper will have admirers, he has revealed that the 24-year-old is close to signing a new contract to extend his stay in Glasgow.

Lennon said: "It is speculation. It wouldn't surprise me if there are a number of clubs in for Gary because of the way he is.

"We are still in negotiations at the minute and I don't think we are too far away.

"There will be interest in him but he is not going anywhere."

Celtic signed Hooper from Scunthorpe for £2.4m in 2010.