Celtic manager Neil Lennon places £25m price tag on Victor Wanyama

Celtic manager Neil Lennon insists midfielder Victor Wanyama is worth £25million in today’s transfer market, adding he believes the player is talented enough to play for Barcelona.

The Kenyan put in an impressive display as the Hoops were beaten 2-1 by the Catalan side in the Nou Camp on Tuesday.

And after rejecting a new contract from the Scottish champions Lennon has made it clear how highly he values the player, comparing him to current Barca player Alex Song.

"I don't know (if the value is realistic) but it is what I value him at," said Lennon. "I think he is a wonderful talent and he can only get better. "If bids come in we are under no pressure to sell which is where we want to be with him at the minute.

"He has the world at is feet but his feet are here and he won't be going anywhere unless we get an out-of-this-world offer and even then, we don't have to sell him because he is on a long-term contract."

Wanyama has seen his stock rise rapidly in his time in Scotland and has reportedly been interesting several top flight English clubs.

The Kenyan midfielder, who arrived from Belgian side Beerschot AC in the summer of 2011, is under contract until 2015.

Following impressive performances, Celtic have taken the proactive step of offering an improved deal to the player with Lennon making it clear he wants the 21-year-old to remain in Scotland.

STV understands Wanyama was offered a more lucrative package, which would also have added an additional year onto his contract.

Wanyama’s agent Rob Moore, who watched his client in action against Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday, said that the offer from Celtic had been rejected.

''Victor has informed Celtic the contract offer fell short of his expectations," Moore told STV.

"There were a number of aspects that fell short - he turned it down."

Celtic boss Neil Lennon said last week that he hoped to hold more talks with Moore and Wanyama this week but the agent says no further discussions have taken place.

"There hasn't been another offer," Moore added. "The ball is in Celtic's court.''

Moore's willingness to discuss the talks disappointed Lennon, who stressed that the offer was a reward.

"Unfortunately, for some reason, Victor's agent and representative has come out and made public that they have turned down a contract," he added. "I am not sure Victor has turned it down.

"He has not spoken to me. A month ago he went on record saying how happy he was at the club and I have no reason to disbelieve that.

"I was actually with his representative in Barcelona on Tuesday and had a brief chat and there was no discussion of him having turned down a new contract.

"So this has come out of the blue and I am disappointed that this has come out in public.

"We don't want to do our negotiations in public. We may go back to him again but we have offered him a significant pay rise. We don't have to do that but we feel it is reward for his performances.

"It is credit to the club and the board and I agree with that philosophy of rewarding players for performances."

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