Gordon Strachan has been told he would be wasting his time trying to take Wigan's Jason Koumas to Celtic Park after reports at the weekend linked the Wales internationalist with a move north.

Gordon Strachan has been told he would be wasting his time trying to take Wigan's Jason Koumas to Celtic Park after reports at the weekend linked the Wales internationalist with a move north.

Koumas, above, was reportedly a target for Celtic manager Strachan last summer, however, the Clydesale Bank Premier League champions lost out to Wigan after they shelled out £5.3m to land the West Brom midfielder.

The playmaker has strugged to make an impact this season and has been linked with a move away from the JJB Stadium, but the Wigan manager, Steve Bruce, insists he wants to keep his squad together for their relegation fight.

Bruce said: "I keep reading the stories about Jason - there seems to be something in the papers every day. But I haven't heard anything from any other club, and I don't envisage anyone going out. I don't really want to sell anyone. The squad has a nice balance."

Meanwhile, Bobo Balde, currently playing for Guinea at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana, has told Strachan he will only leave Parkhead for "a club at a good level".

Bolton pulled out of a move for the 32-year-old last week because of his commitment to his nation at the tournament.

Balde was recently reinstated in the Celtic line-up after an absence of almost a year and admitted he would be quite happy to stay in Scotland as long as he is given more action.

Balde said: "I'm content at Celtic, but I would like more playing time. Will I leave in January? That's up to Celtic. I would only accept it if it was a club at a good level."