Midfielder wants big names to stick around at Parkhead.
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Celtic midfielder Joe Ledley is hoping that the club will be able to hold on to their star players this summer as they look to build on last season’s European campaign and go one further this time around, Sky Sports reports.
The SPL champions have made an early return to pre-season training in order to prepare for next month’s Champions League second qualifying round ties against Northern Irish champions Cliftonville.
And the 26-year-old, who has spurned rumours of a potential return to former club Cardiff, is hoping that the likes of Victor Wanyama, Gary Hooper and Fraser Forster will be as hungry for success as he is and stay at the club despite heavy speculation linking them elsewhere.
“Our main aim is to qualify for Europe as we all enjoyed playing in the Champions League so much,” Ledley said.
“We all enjoyed playing in Europe last season in some fantastic games and we want the same again next season.
“Hopefully the gaffer can keep hold of our best players and bring players in to make us better.
“We know it is going to be difficult with the teams who we can play in the qualifying rounds.
“We need to be up for it and that is why we have come back early so we can be fit and ready for it.”
However, Ledley did admit that he is not surprised that so many Premier League sides are lining up to take closer looks at the club’s players: “Hopefully the club can sit down and speak to them, and show them we are moving forward as a club and keep them for a long time,” added Ledley.
“There is always going to be interest in them because of how good they are as players and what they did last season.
“But the aim is to keep the squad together because we have got a good team bond at Celtic and hopefully we can keep that.”