Peter Lawwell has dismissed claims that Celtic are waging a transfer war against Rangers, yet made it clear that the Parkhead club will continue to spend this summer.

Peter Lawwell has dismissed claims that Celtic are waging a transfer war against Rangers, yet made it clear that the Parkhead club will continue to spend this summer.

The Celtic chief executive has already concluded deals for Scott Brown, Scott McDonald and Chris Killen - at a combined fee of more than £5m - in preparation for next season. Both Brown and McDonald had previously been targeted by Rangers and it has been suggested that the Parkhead club are now prepared to compete with their Old Firm rivals for the signature of Kilmarnock's Steven Naismith.

Lawwell played down that notion and insisted no offer had been made for Naismith. He said: "The fact that both Rangers and Celtic go for the top players in Scotland should not surprise anyone. The nature of the transfer market nowadays means we are focusing more on domestic-based players. It's inevitable that both Old Firm clubs will try to sign the best talent in Scotland.

"There's no war. I read somewhere that Celtic were at war' with Rangers over Steven Naismith and that's just nonsense. We are monitoring the situation with that particular player. We haven't approached his club and we haven't made an offer.

"It's very difficult to comment upon because there are a number of other players we are also keeping tabs on."

Reports in Italy have linked Celtic with potential moves for Massimo Donati, the AC Milan winger, and Gennaro Delvecchio, a midfielder with Sampdoria. The Herald understands there has been informal contact from Donati's representatives as the 26-year-old investigates the possibility of departing the San Siro. He joined Milan in a £10m deal from Atalanta in 2001, yet has been unable to properly establish himself and spent last season on loan at his former employers in Bergamo.

Lawwell said Celtic retained the financial capacity to allow Gordon Strachan to acquire further targets during the close season. That will be combined with trimming some areas of the squad, with Thomas Gravesen, Bobo Balde and Jiri Jarosik among the high-earners who could be moved on if there is sufficient interest.

"As it stands, we know the positions we want to strengthen," added Lawwell, in an interview with Celtic TV. "We have a number of targets and we will go out and try and deliver those to Gordon.

"We're in control, we understand the market and we understand what we have to do. There will be another 10 weeks of this madness in the transfer market.

"We don't have a fixed budget or a fixed transfer kitty. What we want to do is to see where it goes and see where we can take opportunities to strengthen the playing staff of the club.

"At the end of the day, you can't just keep adding players and have a pool of 30, or 32. It's important to have an optimum number of players and get the best players to fit that quota. We know the areas we want to target and we'll go for that.

"The club is in good shape at the moment. We have a good, solid, financial footing and a good manager and players. But you cannot rest on what you have already achieved, particularly not at Celtic."

David Marshall is keen to join any exodus from Parkhead, as the goalkeeper seeks regular first-team football with Norwich City after a loan spell at the Championship club last season. Norwich had a £500,000 bid rejected last week and Peter Grant, the ex-Celtic midfielder in charge at Carrow Road, believes eventually landing Marshall could depend on whether Artur Boruc remains in Glasgow.

"We are very interested in David, as everyone knows," said Grant. "We had an offer rejected by Celtic, as they are perfectly entitled to do, and I can understand their position.

"The Boruc situation is one that seems to be affecting it. As everyone knows, there has been a lot of interest in Boruc and that will inevitably effect Marshall's situation. Unfortunately, it's one that could run for a few weeks as it is up to Celtic. It's frustrating, but we have got to live with that. We have certainly not given up hope of getting him.

"The boy has come out and said he wants to come and play for Norwich and that has certainly been positive from our point of view. He is very keen to come to the club.

"I will sense when I think a deal can't be done. I still think there's hope for us because he has made it quite clear he wants to come and play for us. It is one that could run and run, but we will have to wait and see what happens."