Neil Lennon Reveals the Transfer Near-Misses That Got Away at Celtic

Appointed Celtic boss in 2010, Lennon was keen to make a statement in the transfer market as part of a squad rebuild following the departure of key figures like Artur Boruc. Former Liverpool and England goalkeeper David James was lined up as Boruc’s replacement, while Arsenal legend Sol Campbell and charismatic midfielder Jimmy Bullard were also targeted to bring experience and personality to the dressing room.

But despite personal meetings and intense club efforts to roll out the red carpet, none of the three deals materialised.

“We didn’t get any of them! Did I speak to all three? Yeah!” the former Celtic revealed during his appearance on Open Goal. “I don’t know what it was with Sol. I think he went to Newcastle.”

Bullard’s collapse, however, was the most dramatic. Lennon recalled an elaborate charm offensive to woo the then-Hull City playmaker, including luxury golf outings and a VIP tour of Celtic Park.

“We did the whole spiel with Jimmy. Met him in Portugal, then met him at Loch Lomond… showed him around the stadium. He said, ‘I’ve had a brilliant day, blinding day. I just need to go home and think about it.’”

What followed was a last-minute phone call from Bullard’s father that ended the deal over a wage disagreement. Despite the club making a “huge contribution” toward the proposed loan, Bullard’s camp pushed for more, a move Lennon believes the player now regrets.

“He was just asking for too much money. And he regrets it. He was a good player and would have brought a bit of personality to the club as well.”

Now managing Dunfermline Athletic, Lennon can reflect with humour on the near-misses, but there’s little doubt all three names would have added significant quality and profile to his Celtic project.

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