Celtic turned down an offer from Inter Milan that would have seen Odsonne Edouard move on a loan with option to buy deal, according to a report.
The Frenchman was heavily linked with a move away from Celtic Park last summer and Inter Milan wanted him as a back-up to Romelu Lukaku.
Edouard would be there to offer support to the Belgian as well as challenge him for a place in the first team but Celtic weren't willing to agree to the offer.
Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claims Inter made the offer in the final days of the transfer window which would have seen Edouard join on loan with an option to buy this summer.
It could have seen Celtic get good money for him this year but would have left them short last summer and wouldn't have gone down well with supporters or then boss Neil Lennon.
Romano also claims Edouard had other options but decided to stay in Glasgow for another year and will look to find a new club this summer.
With the Frenchman out of contract next summer, many did expect him to leave Celtic in the next transfer window unless a new manager can persuade him to sign a new deal.
But Romano told GiveMeSport: “Last summer, he was close to leaving Celtic – he had really important bids, he decided to stay, but now it’s time to decide for a new club.
"I’m told that in the last days of the last summer window, Inter were thinking of Edouard as an opportunity, as a backup option for Lukaku.”
“That was impossible because Celtic wanted a permanent deal and they were offering a loan with buy option. Also Roma are interested in him."
