Celtic have categorically denied they were preparing a sensational swoop for Rangers striker Kris Boyd.
Reports had claimed the Parkhead club were set to offer the Scottish Premier League's record goalscorer £30,000 a week and a £1million signing-on fee to defect from the Hoops' arch-rivals.
Celtic wasted no time quashing that speculation on Tuesday morning, issuing a statement on the club's official website, www.celticfc.net, which read: "We will not, repeat NOT, be making a bid for the player."
The statement added: "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."
Boyd joining Celtic would have caused arguably the biggest transfer storm in Scotland since Maurice Johnston snubbed Celtic for Rangers in 1989.
The 26-year-old is out of contract this summer and is still deciding whether to sign a new deal at Ibrox.
He has been strongly tipped to join Birmingham, with Blues boss Alex McLeish a known admirer having come close in January last year to signing the man he brought to Rangers before the move broke down over personal terms.
Turkish outfit Kayserispor have also been linked with the player.
Source: PA
