CELTIC boss Ronny Deila aimed a cheeky side-swipe at his predecessor Neil Lennon after responding to rumour Wanderers were in the market for winger James Forrest.

Answering questions from the Scottish media over reports that Lennon would make a “seven figure” bid for the 23-year-old, the Norwegian replied: “Why go to Bolton?”

Wanderers had already laughed off the link, and as most onlookers at the Macron Stadium will tell you, the chances of the club spending seven figures in total this summer look slim in the extreme.

And while Deila’s comment might look worse in print than it were intended, they are unlikely to have gone down well at the Whites. "Why go to Bolton? He's at Celtic,” he told a press conference today.

"I haven't heard anything. James is a very important player and we want to keep him here.

"He's now getting to a level where we can start working to get him better. He has been free of injury for six months now, he's getting more and more consistency in his play and we expect more from him this season than last because of all the injuries.

"It's a big season not just for him but for everybody. I'm delighted for him because he is such a good boy, it's good working with him.

"I feel very sorry for him coming in and out for four years now. Hopefully he can continue with his consistency and everyone knows what potential he has.

"But we don't want to talk about potential, we want to talk about performances. We are going to work to get James up to the level he can reach."

The Scotland international has been a target for Bolton before, in the days of Owen Coyle, when a £500,000 fee was discussed.

Back then it was Lennon who shrugged off the speculation, eventually helping the midfielder to become a Scotland international and a Champions League regular.