CELTIC are expected to increase their original offer of £900,000 for Dundee United forward Nadir Ciftci after John Collins, the assistant manager, let slip that the club had made a move for the Turk.
Speaking to television, Collins confirmed a bid had been placed at Tannadice for the 23-year-old who scored 16 goals last season and did enough to catch the eye of Ronny Deila, the Celtic manager.
Although Collins was more circumspect about the player when he spoke later to the written press, stating that he did not want to talk about individual players and that he "could not confirm or deny it".
Dundee United are reluctant to sell to the champions because they feel aggrieved over the way they lost Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay-Steven in January, although if Ciftci himself fancies a move to Celtic they may be forced into selling, as they did at the start of the year, rather than lose him for nothing when his contract runs out in a year's time.
"I believe there is an approach but that's all I've heard and there's not a lot I can tell you," Collins said when asked about the player.
"He has obviously played against us many times last year, he's a big striker, he's strong, he's powerful and he's got technique as well. We like him.
"We're looking to strengthen the squad but unfortunately we can't talk about other players at other clubs. It would be unfair and disrespectful to the other clubs to do that but we are looking for new players."
Ciftci is due to answer a charge of "excessive misconduct" next month for his alleged bite on Dundee player Jim McAlister on the leg during the final match of last season. If found guilty, it could land him a lengthy ban.
Something Collins could say for definite is that Kris Commons should be fit for the Champions League qualifier against FC Stjarnan at Celtic Park in a fortnight's time after breaking his small toe in an accident in his home.
"Kris is getting better every day. Perhaps in another couple of days he'll get back onto the grass and get his boots on," said Collins. "It's his small toe, so too painful to put a boot on. It was a fracture, so you have to let it heal.
"We're hoping that he will be able to train again in the next couple of days. He's been working in the gym on the bike, so he's keeping his fitness up. The players have only had four weeks off, so you can't lose too much fitness in that time."
Mikael Lustig, the right full-back, has also returned to the club fully fit following a season that was badly hampered by injury.
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