Neil Lennon has already discussed summer signing targets with Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell and head of recruitment Lee Congerton.

Lennon is currently in charge until the end of the season following the swift departure of Brendan Rodgers to Leicester but long-term plans are already underway in terms of the rebuilding job that Celtic face this summer.

With a number of key players heading to parent clubs at the end of the season – Filip Benkovic, Oliver Burke, Timothy Weah and Jeremy Toljan – and players out of contract such as Dedryck Boyata, Celtic are keen to have signings lined up ahead of the UEFA Champions League qualifiers which begin in early July.

And both Lennon and Congerton, who had been linked with a move away from Celtic this week, have already began that rebuilding process in conjunction with Lawwell with early discussions to identify key positions and signings targets already done.

“I had a meeting with Peter and Lee Congerton on Wednesday so there are plans in place already,” revealed Lennon. “There are positions identified and some players identified and there is a plan going forward so it is business as usual as far as I am concerned and until I am told otherwise.

“Some of the players are away playing in tournaments and the under-20 World Cup and things like that. It is important to do as much business as quickly as possible and if we can get it done now then even better.

“It was good to meet Lee and have a few hours with him. I enjoyed his company and I was really impressed with what he had in mind. Whether that changes or not I don’t know but it is not the impression I got from Lee.

“I think everyone is well aware of that [the need to invest in squad this summer]. Even if Brendan had been here it still would have needed a bit of work.

“We haven’t touched on that [pre-season] yet. I think there was a meeting the other day that I couldn’t make but that is all in hand as well.”

Those discussions – as normal as if he were in the job on a permanent basis – might indicate that Lennon will indeed be given a second long-term spell in charge. That remains to be seen but the 47-year-old has accepted that there is more pressure on him now as interim manager as he seeks to deliver an historic third successive treble than there would be under normal circumstances.

“It is not about me completing the Treble, it is about making sure the players do,” he said. “The whole bulk of the work was done by Brendan and the players so it important that we maintain that run of form and try to get over the line to do something pretty unique. Winning the Treble for me would be nice but it is all about the players. I am only in here for 12 or 15 games so it would be job done and job well done but we know we still have a lot of work to do.

“There is nothing guaranteed one way or another and that is fine by me. It is not about me, it is about the club. I have to make sure that for the club’s sake that we, firstly, try and win the title and then the Cup but the title is the priority obviously.”