Hooper to stay at Celtic

Southampton manager Nigel Adkins has admitted that he will not be signing Celtic’s Gary Hooper.

The Saints have already had two bids rejected for the striker, and Adkins has realised that the Scottish league leaders will not be selling Hooper.

Speaking to BBC Scotland, Adkins said: ‘Celtic say they don’t want to sell him. So that’s it, end of story.

‘I know Gary and I’m delighted he’s doing so well. He’s a top-class striker, but we have other good strikers here, so we move on.’

It was thought that the Championship leaders were to place a third bid for the former Scunthorpe man, but Celtic boss Neil Lennon has no plan to let Hooper leave.

‘The stance hasn’t changed,’ he told the BBC.

‘The retention of all my key players is key to winning the title and Gary certainly comes into that bracket.’