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Neil Lennon admits there is a chance Chung-Yong Lee may not play for Wanderers again.
With his in-form South Korean star on duty at the Asia Cup during January and effectively in the shop window for teams who could pick him up for nothing in the summer, the Whites boss knows he has an anxious few weeks ahead.
Chung-Yong is free to speak to other clubs after stalling on signing a new contract and reports in his home country suggest the playmaker is holding out for an offer from the Premier League.
Lennon has not given up hope of convincing the 26-year-old to extend his deal at Wanderers – although he conceded last month that any contract offer “would not be cheap.”
And the Northern Irishman now has to legislate for the possibility a club could come in to sign Chung-Yong in the current transfer window, if his club form translates to his international duties in Australia over this month.
Eidur Gudjohnsen and Zach Clough are the men most likely to fill the creative gap for now – although Lennon is still looking to add another couple of attacking players to his ranks before deadline day.
“You throw a gauntlet down to the players and ask ‘are we going to miss Chungy? Is he the difference?’” the manager told The Bolton News.
“But I think some of the football we played against Wigan showed we can cope, and that there are players who can fill in while he is away.
“No doubt about it, this will be a long month. And we have to accept we may lose him permanently, we don’t know. But we need to make reservations and make sure we do not leave ourselves short.”
Chung-Yong has been appointed vice-captain of the Korean team, who are among the favourites to lift the Asia Cup.
He was quoted briefly in the Korean press last week when his words offer little encouragement to Lennon or the Wanderers fans that he is considering his long-term future to be at the Macron Stadium.
“If I perform well at the Asian Cup, I will get a good offer,” he said.
Sources close to the player suggest Chung-Yong has made no firm decision on whether to leave the club but confirmed he has not signed a deal offered to him by the Whites.
The midfielder has been capped 63 times for his country and kicks-off the competition against Oman on Saturday in Canberra.
Source
With his in-form South Korean star on duty at the Asia Cup during January and effectively in the shop window for teams who could pick him up for nothing in the summer, the Whites boss knows he has an anxious few weeks ahead.
Chung-Yong is free to speak to other clubs after stalling on signing a new contract and reports in his home country suggest the playmaker is holding out for an offer from the Premier League.
Lennon has not given up hope of convincing the 26-year-old to extend his deal at Wanderers – although he conceded last month that any contract offer “would not be cheap.”
And the Northern Irishman now has to legislate for the possibility a club could come in to sign Chung-Yong in the current transfer window, if his club form translates to his international duties in Australia over this month.
Eidur Gudjohnsen and Zach Clough are the men most likely to fill the creative gap for now – although Lennon is still looking to add another couple of attacking players to his ranks before deadline day.
“You throw a gauntlet down to the players and ask ‘are we going to miss Chungy? Is he the difference?’” the manager told The Bolton News.
“But I think some of the football we played against Wigan showed we can cope, and that there are players who can fill in while he is away.
“No doubt about it, this will be a long month. And we have to accept we may lose him permanently, we don’t know. But we need to make reservations and make sure we do not leave ourselves short.”
Chung-Yong has been appointed vice-captain of the Korean team, who are among the favourites to lift the Asia Cup.
He was quoted briefly in the Korean press last week when his words offer little encouragement to Lennon or the Wanderers fans that he is considering his long-term future to be at the Macron Stadium.
“If I perform well at the Asian Cup, I will get a good offer,” he said.
Sources close to the player suggest Chung-Yong has made no firm decision on whether to leave the club but confirmed he has not signed a deal offered to him by the Whites.
The midfielder has been capped 63 times for his country and kicks-off the competition against Oman on Saturday in Canberra.
Source
