Motherwell receive official approach for Jens Berthel Askou as update offered on Celtic man
Motherwell have confirmed their retained list following the conclusion of their season
Motherwell are bracing themselves for a battle to hang onto head coach Jens Berthel Askou after receiving an official approach from French side Toulouse for his services.
Berthel Askou, 43, led the Fir Park outfit to fourth place this season with a 1-0 away win at Hibs on the final day of the season at the weekend. Their best finish in the Scottish Premiership for a decade, they also sealed a spot in the Conference League qualifying rounds in the process.
However, they could be about to lose their highly rated Danish boss after just one season in charge, with Les Violet’s keen to speak to him about succeeding Carles Martínez Novell ahead of next season. Mentioned as a potential successor to Martin O’Neill at Celtic this summer, reports claim that talks are ongoing between Motherwell and the Ligue 1 side, though no deal is yet to be agreed.
Meanwhile, the club have confirmed they remain in discussions with out-of-contract defender Liam Gordon about extending his stay at the club, while talented academy midfielder Olly Whyte has penned a new one-year deal with the club after a successful season on loan at Stenhousemuir.
Announcing their retained list amid the conclusion of the 2025/26 season, the Fir Park outfit have confirmed exits for Kofi Balmer, Callum Slattery, Zach Robinson and Dylan Wells, while it was revealed that former Hearts winger Sam Nicholson will join Livingston on a pre-contract agreement, subject to Scottish FA approvals. Midfielder Andy Halliday has confirmed his retirement.
The rest of the list confirms that all remaining senior first-team players have been retained, with on-loan Celtic defender Stephen Welsh returned to his parent club following the conclusion of his loan spell. The 27-year-old was a key player for Berthel Askou’s team after arriving on loan last summer, making 27 appearances.
Many supporters had called for the club to sign Welsh on a permanent basis when the summer transfer window re-opens. However, comments from Berthel Askou appear to signal an end to the player’s time at Fir Park, with the Motherwell boss saying: “We say goodbye to our loan player, Stephen Welsh, who has made an impressive impact on our team. His composure and intelligent defending have been vital for us, and he will be remembered for being a big part of this team. Thank you, Welshy, and good luck in the future.”
“Andy Halliday has kicked his final ball as a professional, ending an impressive career in Scottish football this summer, “ added the Motherwell boss. “He has made a huge impact as a leader and as a player with us. We wish him the very best going forward while thanking him for his devotion to this club.”
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