Source: Daily_Mail
Put up or shut up: Celtic tell Newcastle it's£4m plus Enrique to prise McManus
Tough talk: Celtic are staying firm over their demands for Newcastle target Stephen McManus, pictured in action against AC Milan's Kaka in 2007
With the Spaniard on wages of£40,000 a week, however, Celtic's interest diminished rapidly.
With other fringe players in Joe Kinnear's squad also earning more than the Parkhead club are willing to pay, Newcastle will now be told to offer cash - or back off.
Celtic are not actively seeking to sell McManus and, with Spartak Moscow loan target Radislav Kovac set to accept a rival offer, the ball is now in the court of a Premier League club reluctant to pay£4m outright.
McManus signed a long-term Celtic contract in May 2007 after being confirmed as the new club captain in succession to Neil Lennon.
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Sportsmail understands, however, that the 25-year-old defender - injured after scoring in the 3-2 win against Hibs on Saturday - would speak to the Tyneside club.
Concerned by his treatment at the hands of some supporters in recent weeks, the lure of the Premier League and a huge hike in his current wage of£16,000 a week would be a significant attraction for Scotland's vice captain.
Celtic, meanwhile, face disappointment in their quest to sign Czech international defender Kovac for the rest of the season.
With Italian side Bologna and a raft of German Bundesliga clubs, including Hannover, chasing his signature, the Parkhead club will miss out on securing Kovac's services.
'He may just as well move to a different club,' said agent Pavel Zika.
'We have been choosing the best option and there are many more suitors.'
Celtic are currently casting the net wide in search of defensive reinforcements after laying the foundations for Dundee United's on-loan Cardiff City midfielder Willo Flood to join up early next week.
In demand: Celtic face competition from Cardiff City to land Manchester City striker Ched Evans
Manchester City striker Ched Evans is still expected to land in Glasgow, despite confirmation from Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale and Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell that they, too, want the player.
The 20-year-old has made 17 first-team appearances at Eastlands this season and is part of John Toshack's senior Welsh set-up.
Another City player, midfielder Gelson Fernandes, has also been discussed within Parkhead as a loan signing and the Swiss international admitted he is unhappy with his lot in Manchester.
Fernandes was signed by Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2007 but has fallen out of favour recently under new manager Mark Hughes.
'I will be 23 in September and, if I see that I no longer have first-team opportunities, I will head for another club,' Fernandes declared.
'I have lost my place in the Switzerland national team, as well, and that's disappointing.
'The coach, Ottmar Hitzfeld, has made it very clear that I have to play regularly for my club in order to get into his first XI.
'I am now at the richest club in the world. It is a nice experience, but not an easy one to deal with.'
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