Wanyama: Valued at £25million

The 21-year-old midfielder signed a four-year deal when he moved from Belgian side Beerschot for a reported £900,000 in 2011 but the Parkhead club, in line with their recent policy of rewarding performances, have offered him new terms.

However, following Wanyama's impressive display for the Hoops in their Champions League clash with Barcelona at the Nou Camp on Tuesday night, the player's agent, Rob Moore, told STV: "Victor has informed Celtic the contract offer fell short of his expectations."

The Celtic boss believes Wanyama is good enough to play for the Catalan giants, insisting he was in the "same mould" as Barca midfielder Alex Song, as he defended his valuation of the player before hitting out at Moore.

"I don't know (if the value is realistic) but it is what I value him at," said Lennon.

"I think he is a wonderful talent and he can only get better.

"If bids come in we are under no pressure to sell which is where we want to be with him at the minute.

"He has the world at is feet but his feet are here and he won't be going anywhere unless we get an out-of-this-world offer and even then, we don't have to sell him because he is on a long-term contract."

Lennon was less complimentary when discussing Moore's revelation.

He said: "Unfortunately, for some reason, Victor's agent and representative has come out and made public that they have turned down a contract.

"I am not sure Victor has turned it down.

"He has not spoken to me. A month ago he went on record saying how happy he was at the club and I have no reason to disbelieve that.

"I was actually with his representative in Barcelona on Tuesday and had a brief chat and there was no discussion of him having turned down a new contract.

"So this has come out of the blue and I am disappointed that this has come out in public.

"We don't want to do our negotiations in public.

"We may go back to him again but we have offered him a significant pay rise.

"We don't have to do that but we feel it is reward for his performances.

"It is credit to the club and the board and I agree with that philosophy of rewarding players for performances."

Ahead of tomorrow's Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Kilmarnock at Parkhead, Lennon also hit back at former Barcelona star Bernd Schuster who criticised Celtic for their tactics in the Nou Camp.

The former West Germany midfielder, who also played for and managed Real Madrid, accused the Scottish champions of being too negative in their Group G clash with the Catalan giants which ended in defeat for the visitors when Jordi Alba scored an injury-time goal for the home side.

The Parkhead side were widely praised for their display but Schuster was quoted as saying: "I'm fed up of seeing these type of matches.

"There should not be teams like Celtic in the Champions League."

Lennon was both sarcastic and scathing with his retort.

"It's just the ramblings of someone who has failed as a coach," said the former Hoops skipper.

"I am disappointed that the media here wanted to emphasise his thoughts on the game.

"I was sitting there 60 minutes into the game thinking 'God what is Bernd Schuster thinking of our performance here, I better change it'.

"I did go with two strikers and I did bring on James Forrest and Kris Commons.

"I didn't set out to be defensive but sometimes Barcelona can get a grip of the opposition and not let go.

"So I don't take too much notice of Bernd Schuster, I am more into the thoughts of Gordon Strachan, Martin O'Neill and the Alex Ferguson's of this world, who I would take advice from before anyone else."