John Kennedy has re-opened the door for Olivier Ntcham at Celtic and says the French outcast could be a key player for the club’s new boss.
The 25-year-old midfielder was sent on loan to Marseille back in January but the move to his homeland has been a disaster.
Ntcham is expected to return to Glasgow in the summer, where a new Hoops gaffer will be in place.
Eddie Howe is expected to be Neil Lennon’s long-term replacement and stand-in Kennedy believes the Frenchman could still have a future at Parkhead.
Ntcham was signed by Brendan Rodgers for £4.5 million from Manchester City in 2017 and was part of the club’s quadruple Treble squad.
He was widely expected to be one of the players moved on this summer, with a huge regime change at Celtic.
But interim boss Kennedy insists Ntcham could stay if he’s ready to impress a new manager.
He said: “We’re not closing any doors on Olivier. I spoke to him a few weeks ago and I have a good relationship with him.
“He was keen to get out for a new challenge and the club agreed on that. It was good for both of us at that time.
“But if there’s going to be changes in the summer, Olivier might be motivated to give Celtic another shot.
“He’s a very good player as we know so that’s a conversation that will have to take place at the end of the season if Olivier wants to come back and fight to be at Celtic.
“He could be a big part of the club moving forward because he’s a talented player.
“Marseille hasn’t worked out for him and sometimes the grass isn’t greener.
“He’s a good lad, he’s professional and in the coming weeks the club will need to speak to him about how his future looks.
“It’ll be about squad management and how it’s going to look for next season. It hasn’t really been addressed.
“There hasn’t been too much discussion because of the uncertainty around things.
“But several parties will have those talks in the coming weeks. We’ll have our own ideas but it’ll be up to the decision makers.”
