European: Celtic news thread

Celtic are set to launch a January bid to land out-of-favour Chelsea midfielder Scott Parker on loan, with a view to a permanent transfer.

Parker has only played a bit-part role in Chelsea's trophy hunt so far this season - and has fallen out of the England frame due to his lack of first-team action at Stamford Bridge.

Blues boss Jose Mourinho wants to hang on to the former Charlton playmaker, who has also been linked with a loan return to The Valley, but has admitted he will let any unhappy players leave the Bridge.

According to The Daily Star that has alerted Bhoys boss Martin O'Neill, who wants to bolster his squad as the race for the SPL title hots up.

The champions lead arch rivals Rangers by just one point after 18 games - and O'Neill feels Parker could be the man to help stretch their lead in the coming months.

Parker is unlikely to want a permanent move north of the border - but may see a loan switch as a chance to impress any suitors, with Arsenal believed to admire him as they prepare for Edu's exit from Highbury.

Sportinglife

yer. i read this one in the paper today and i was suprised to be honest. when he was at charlaton he was one of there best players. chelsea was always going to be a step up in quality though

i guess the good thing is, if he was to come here. chelsea would still pay his wages. i think veron and crespo had the same kind of loan deal.

we defintly need a extra bit of energy and drive in the team at the moment. too many players are looking wrecked.

Looks like there is alot of interest in Parker and it will be interesting to see where he goes.

Chelsea wouldn't mind Celtic as i don't think they would let him go to another Prem side.

Juninho's agent Brian Hassall has played down a potential deal for the player to leave Celtic for West Brom. Baggies boss Bryan Robson twice took Juninho to Middlesbrough when he was in charge at the Riverside but Hassall does not see another move by Robson for the talented Brazil midfielder.

He said: "Nobody has said anything to me. West Brom are rock bottom and I could not imagine he would want to go there as much as he likes Bryan.

"When you stop to think about it, Bryan has also got Kanu there and they are too similar.

"I am not saying that Juninho is not better in my opinion, but I would be quite surprised if they wanted him."

Juninho has not been given "a fair crack of the whip" by Bhoys manager Martin O'Neill, according to Hassall.

The 31-year-old arrived in Glasgow earlier in the season and made an immediate impression in the Old Firm derby against Rangers in August. But the former Boro playmaker has found himself on the sidelines following a poor display in the Champions League against Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine last October, and has been linked with a move away from the club in the January transfer window.

Sportinglife

yer, he has been linked with a mexican club i think too, and botafago? in brazil who say it will happen. WBA sounds about right as robson bought him one before and likes him.

and they are showing ambition with a number of players who have been linked to them

but he aint getting games at parkhead, and aiden mcgeady, the youngster we got, is playing really well.

John Hartson's agent has hinted that the Wales international striker is ready to commit his future to Celtic.

Hartson has just six months left on his contract at Parkhead, and has been tipped to leave during the January transfer window with several Premiership sides, as well as Hertha Berlin, rumoured to be interested.

However, his agent Jonathan Barnett held extended talks with Celtic boss Martin O'Neill and directors on Wednesday and revealed that substantial progress had been made.

"I have been speaking to various people at Celtic today and all I will say is that we have had a very, very good meeting," declared Barnett.

"There's nothing concrete at this moment.

"We had a very good talk with the people at the club about John's contract and there are more discussions and decisions to be made but I don't want to say much more about them."

Meanwhile, Hartson's Celtic team-mate Juninho also looks likely to stay at the club after his representative rubbished a link with West Brom.

Skysports

Celtic star Bobo Balde has been offered a new deal but he has yet to decide whether he wants to extend his stay at Parkhead. Manager Martin O'Neill is keen to hold on to the imposing defender, who is one of a number of players whose contract expires at the end of the season.

He has already been linked with Barclay's Premiership sides Manchester City, Newcastle and Everton. O'Neill refused to go into the details of the offer but admitted he was concerned his out-of-contract players have not been tied up on longer deals yet.

He said: "If it was down to an extra year I think we would be reasonably accommodating.

"There's always scope for more negotiations but I won't get into specifics.

"We've made him an offer and he's mulling it over. We obviously want him to stay but like everything else it might come down to finance.

"It is a concern now that we're in January. You would like people you want to keep at the club to have been signed up."

Sportinglife

i hope balde stays, although he can be daft at times, heratic i think the word. he can be very useful.

it looks like the board are back to there ways of not wanting to show money around

John Hartson looks set to end his playing career at Celtic after signing a new contract which will keep him at the club until May 2007.

The prolific Welsh international ended months of speculation surrounding his future by putting his signature to a two-year contract with the possibility of a further year-long deal at the end of it.

If the deal did run on that extra year, Hartson would be 33 and likely to hang up his boots.

Sportinglife

yip, at long last it looks like pen to paper has been done for him to stay, its believed bobo balde has signed a new contract, but i aint heard if confirmed. and hes free to play rangers on sunday

Yea good news for Celtic fans that he signed...

He will end his career there now.

yip. good job he stayed too as he scored today against the 2nd best team in scotland

Didier Agathe curled in a percentage ball from the right flank, Sutton got the faintest of touches and Hartson pounced on Andrews' fallibility to shoot beyond an exposed Klos.

Celtic misfit Juninho has urged the club to let him leave during the transfer window as he continues to find himself out in the cold.

The Brazilian schemer moved to Parkhead last summer from Middlesbrough but has failed to convince Martin O'Neill he is worthy of a first -team place.

He was omitted from The Bhoys' starting line-up in last weekend's Old Firm clash with Rangers in the Scottish Cup, and that appears to have been the final straw for the 31-year-old.

He insists he now wants to leave the SPL outfit as soon as possible and kick-start his stuttering career elsewhere.

"The manager has had chances to play me but it hasn't happened," he told the Daily Record. "That's why I feel out of his plans.

"If that is the case then this is the opportunity for me to go.

"If I have no future at Celtic it makes sense for me to go because they can use my wages to spend on players the manager wants.

"But I can't understand why I am in this situation.

"When a manager brings new players to the club he gives that player support.

That's what disappoints me most. Since I came here I have never had his support - that's the way I see it.

"I was very excited when I came here. The supporters were excited as well.

" That's why I don't understand what has happened - there are a lot of questions without answers."

man city are supposed to be interested in taking him on a 6month loan deal. till the end of the seaons really. and botafago want to buy him back to brazil.

balde is linked with man city too at the minute

Stilian Petrov's agent has rubbished reports linking the Celtic star with a move to Everton. Reports north and south of the border have claimed that Everton are interested in signing the Bulgarian international.

Everton have been linked with Petrov for some time with Toffees boss David Moyes believed to be a big fan of the midfielder. The Toffees could be in the market for a new midfield man with Thomas Gravesen possibly moving to Real Madrid. However, Petrov's agent Latchezar Tanev revealed he has had no contact with Everton and that the player was happy at Parkhead.

Skysports

celtic youngster kevin mcbride has left for motherwell

Motherwell boss Terry Butcher has expressed delight at turning Kevin McBride's loan spell at the club into a permanent arrangement.

The 23-year-old midfielder impressed during a loan spell at Fir Park from Celtic and Butcher was able to persuade his Bhoys counterpart Martin O'Neill to allow the move to be made permanent.

"Kevin is now officially a Motherwell player and it is a great boost for us and the lad because he's had a bit of a rollercoaster ride for us," said Butche

full report

celtic manager martin o'neill is hoping he will sign a contract

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill remains upbeat that Bobo Balde will sign a new contract at Parkhead.

Balde is out of contract at the end of the season and reports had suggested he had rejected The Bhoys' latest offer.

Both parties have been in discussions regarding a fresh deal and O'Neill confirmed that the talks had not reached an impasse.

full report

some finish guy is on a trial at parkhead

Celtic have taken Finnish international Henri Scheweleff on trial.

The 21-year-old forward has been in impressive form for his club side Tampere United and a number of clubs have been taking an interest.

He trained with Italian outfit Lecce in December and Swedish side Orgryte were also keen, but Celtic have now made their move.

Scheweleff will train with The Bhoys for the coming week and will hope to land a permanent switch to Parkhead.

sky sports

well. the guy could leave and o'neill is worried that it could happen

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has admitted that he could lose Bobo Balde to an English club.

The Guinea international is out of contract in the summer and is now in a position to negotiate a pre-contract with other clubs.

Celtic are still trying to convince him to stay, but O'Neill concedes clubs south of the border have deep pockets.

sky sports

well. it looks like bobo is going to leave, cant find anything on it here but middlesbrough are supposed to announce he will sign for them at the end of the season.

and we are supposed to want to buy a guy called paul hartley i think hes called. he plays for hearts