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While Celtic were preparing for the Europa League last night one of Celtic’s potential summer targets is no longer in the frame for the Hoops after signing a new contract.
Midfielder Ikechi Anya signed a new five-year contract at Watford ruling out a move to league champions in the summer.
Anya’s contract was due to run out in the summer of 2016 and the 27-year-old was linked with a move to Celtic earlier this summer.
There was a possibility that he could have linked up with fellow Scottish internationals, Scott Brown, Kris Commons, James Forrest and Leigh Griffiths, but Anya has opted to remain in the Premier League.
He could have begun talks with Celtic in January over a possible pre-contract agreement or could have moved north in the summer for free.
The Scottish international was out of contract this summer, but will remain at the Premier League club for the foreseeable future.
Assistant manager John Collins last spoke on the move in June, as per the BBC, ruling it out then, but it didn’t stop the Scot from being linked with a move to Celtic.
They’re two good football players who I admire but they’re both on Premier League wages, Collins said of Anya and Steven Fletcher, who Celtic were also linked with.