Celtic rubbish report of move to sign Kris Boyd

The front page of yesterday's Scottish Sun, a newspaper which has an established and close relationship with Boyd, stated that Celtic had been in contact with associates of the Scotland striker whose current contract at Rangers expires this summer.

The article said Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell would sanction wages of 30,000-a-week and a 1 million signing-on fee for the 26-year-old.

But the Parkhead club moved swiftly to pour scorn on the report, issuing a statement on their official website which could hardly have been more adamant or dismissive.

A spokesman for Celtic said: "Welcome to the silly season. We can categorically state that Kris Boyd has never been a target for Celtic and at no time have we ever attempted to sign him. We will not, repeat NOT (sic), be making a bid for the player."

Despite Celtic's categoric denial, which was supported by sources close to Boyd and his agent Mark Donaghy, the Scottish Sun were last night believed to be sticking to their story.

The general reaction to it, however, was neatly summed up by former Rangers player Jorg Albertz who was back in Glasgow to promote a golf event for the club's charity foundation.

"I thought it was a funny front page in the newspaper saying Kris Boyd was going to Celtic," said Albertz.

"I don't believe that, I think that must be a joke. So many things about this are nonsense. How can you go from Glasgow Rangers to Celtic? It's impossible. If you want to get better, why would you go there?"

Boyd is understood to have been offered 18,000 a week to remain at Rangers but more lucrative opportunities may lie elsewhere, such as at Birmingham City and Turkish club Kayserispor who have both confirmed their interest.

"If you once play for a club like Rangers, in my opinion, you don't want to leave," added Albertz. "Every player has to make up his mind but if you have a chance to play for Rangers, you don't want to go somewhere else. Scoring a lot of goals for Rangers is not an easy situation and he has to prove himself every season.

"It's going to be a hard task to beat that again after the number of goals he scored this season. But he can do it. A lot would maybe depend on who is coming into the club to help him and the players around him. We all don't know what is going on inside the club. Maybe he knows a little more or maybe he doesn't know anything either. Maybe he's not sure and that's why there is stuff in the papers about Celtic and other clubs."

The future of another Old Firm striker remains unclear, meanwhile, after Georgios Samaras' lawyer responded to reports the player was keen on a move to Italian club Palermo.

The Greek international, named yesterday in his country's squad for the World Cup finals, had been quoted as expressing his delight over the Serie A outfit's interest in him. But his representative Dr Gregory Ioannidis released a statement insisting he would be staying in Glasgow.

"We would like to dismiss all recent publications and/or rumours that Mr Samaras wishes to leave Celtic," said Ioannidis.

"On the contrary, we would like to state unequivocally that Mr Samaras will see out his remaining year at Celtic until and when Celtic tell him otherwise.

"This is the time of the year where numerous reports claim things that do not reflect reality. Mr Samaras is preparing for and focusing on the World Cup and there are no other discussions with other clubs.

"We are instructed to see that these reports are put to a stop and we would seek to establish all the evidence and where appropriate seek remedies."