Dundee United yesterday insisted that no approach has yet been made for midfielder Stuart Armstrong by Celtic, despite suggestions talks had started between the clubs over a January switch.
Reports claimed that the Tannadice club had been contacted by the champions with a view to signing him in this month’s transfer window, but United stressed that there has been no bid for the highly-rated 22-year-old from the Parkhead club “or anyone else”.
Expectations remain, however, that Celtic will indeed make a formal move before the window closes after capturing fellow United star Gary Mackay-Steven on a pre-contract agreement last week.
Hoops boss Ronny Deila admitted being an admirer of Armstrong who has 18 months left on his contract – last month and likened him to Germany’s World Cup winner Thomas Muller ahead of his team’s clash with United at Tannadice.
And of course Armstrong was the man who scored United’s second goal in that fixture further enhancing his reputation in Deila’s eyes.
However, United have insisted that they have no need to sell their key players and are likely to command a hefty fee believed to be at least £2.5 million.
Meanwhile, United chairman Stephen Thompson is understood to be closer than ever to a deal to purchase Australian club Newcastle Jets.
Further talks have been held in the last few days and BBC Scotland suggested last night the negotiations are at an “advanced stage” although no agreement has been reached as yet.
Jets owner Nathan Tinkler slapped a £2.5 million price tag on the A-League outfit last month, but that appears not to have cooled the interest of Thompson who has made regular trips Down Under over the past year.
Any purchase of the Australian club would need to be approved by the SFA’s main board.