CELTIC have yet to decide whether to take further their interest in striker Hamdi Salihi, and the Parkhead club may wait until the final week of January before committing to moves for him or any other signing target.

Rapid Vienna player Salihi is available for around £500,000 but, although Celtic have had him watched, they have yet to make any move for the 27-year-old Albanian and do not plan to do so any time soon. Despite speculation linking them with Jay Bothroyd, Baba Diawara and Jordan Rhodes there have been no offers or approaches made to any of them either.

Herald Sport understands that Celtic – despite learning that Biram Kayal may not play again until next season – are content to sit tight until the last week of the window rather than commit to any deals at the moment, when it can seem like a seller's rather than a buyer's market.

Manager Neil Lennon has admitted an interest in Salihi and described him as a good player who might be an option. Salihi yesterday revealed he was open to an offer from Celtic when he told Austrian newspaper Kurier: "Celtic is a club with a great name, this could be a good step for my career. But I know nothing concrete. The deal would have to be right for all parties, including Rapid."

Salihi took over as Rapid's main forward when Nikica Jelavic left them for Rangers and he scored 46 times in his first two seasons with the club. This season he has slipped out of favour a little, though, and eight of his 11 league appearances have come as a substitute. He is out of contract in the summer but Rapid would allow him to leave now for around £500,000.

It has been reported that Portuguese club Maritimo are now demanding £5m-£6m for Diawara but Celtic's understanding is that the 24-year-old Senegalese internationalist would actually be available for much less. Stuttgart have been linked with him too, but the German club have yet to commit to an offer.

Lennon has watched in-form Huddersfield Town striker Rhodes, but the young Scotland cap may have priced himself out of Celtic's budget with his remarkable run of goals recently, including five against Wycombe Wanderers. West Ham United are also keen to sign Rhodes.

And although Lennon likes Jay Bothroyd, the 29-year-old who was capped by England in 2010, it could prove impossible for Celtic to lure him away from QPR, especially as he yesterday welcomed new manager Mark Hughes as "a tremendous appointment".

Celtic will continue to monitor the market and may move again in the last week to 10 days before the window closes, but senior figures at the club are believed to be relaxed about the quality of the squad at the moment and do not see it as essential that anyone is bought unless the right players can be attracted at an affordable price. A striker and centre-forward are the areas they would like to strengthen. Salihi remains an option rather than a priority.

Icelandic triallist Ingolfur Sigurdsson, an 18-year-old winger from Valur Reykjavik, yesterday played in a bounce game at Lennoxtown as Celtic beat St Johnstone 3-2 and he will spend the week at the club. Another trialist, 20-year-old Nigerian midfielder Rabiu Ibrahim, is also at Celtic this week after negotiating his release from PSV Eindhoven last month. Mikael Lustig, the right-back signed as a free agent from Rosenborg, has been their only January signing so far. Kayal had surgery on his ankle injury on Monday night and Celtic learned that it is unlikely he will be fit enough to play again this season. Kayal was hurt in a tackle with Rangers' Lee McCulloch in the Old Firm game on December 28.

"This is very sad news for Biram," said Lennon. "He has been brilliant for us and instrumental in our performances during the season. He will definitely be a big loss, but more importantly we are disappointed for him to be missing such a large part of the season at a time when he was playing so well. Clearly his health and fitness are now our priority and we will be making sure he gets our total support during the coming period."

Otherwise, Joe Ledley and Gary Hooper have recovered from knocks suffered in the William Hill Scottish Cup tie against Peterhead. Along with Glenn Loovens and Kris Commons, who have returned to training, they will be available against Dundee United on Saturday. Daniel Majstorovic, Mo Bangura and Mark Wilson are still on the sidelines.