Celtic have categorically denied they were preparing a swoop for Rangers striker Kris Boyd. Reports today claimed the Parkhead club were set to offer the Scottish Premier League's record scorer £30,000 a week and a £1m signing-on fee to defect from their arch-rivals.

Celtic wasted no time quashing that speculation this morning, issuing a statement on the club's official website, which read: "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, be making a bid for the player."

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.

Welcome to the silly season. We can categorically state that Kris Boyd has never been a target for Celtic. We will not, repeat NOT, be making a bid for the player.
A statement on Celtic's official website

He has been strongly tipped to join Birmingham City, whose manager Alex McLeish is a known admirer who came close to signing Boyd in January before the move broke down over personal terms. Turkish outfit Kayserispor have also been linked with the player.

Former Rangers star Jorg Albertz thought it was a joke when he heard Boyd had been linked with Celtic. And he claimed a switch to the Bhoys would be the wrong move for someone looking to further their career.

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