THE first shots of the phoney war of the transfer window were fired yesterday when Neil Lennon claimed he was "interested" in Kris Boyd, the former Rangers striker.
The Celtic manager said: "He is a proven goalscorer. I don't know how much football he has played of late but he is a player with a great record and any player like that would interest me."
He also said Boyd's status as a former Rangers player would "not be a problem". The Scottish Premier League's all-time top scorer this week terminated his contract with Turkish club Eskisehirspor following a wage dispute and is now a free agent.
However, it is unlikely that he will sign for either Old Firm club. Celtic, who are in the market for a striker and a central defender, are chasing Baba Diawara of Maritimo as an attacking option while Ally McCoist was restrained in his response to news of Boyd's availability yesterday.
"We have ruled nobody out, but I can't count anybody in either," the Rangers manager said of the 28-year-old striker. "We are just trying to weigh up our options. We certainly need strengthened in forward areas."
The Old Firm have both been linked to Scott Allan, the 20-year-old Dundee United midfielder. However, Lennon said he had not spoken to the player and indicated that midfield was not a priority to be strengthened. "He is a good footballer but my only concern would be that we have plenty in the position," said Lennon. "But he is of interest."
McCoist, though, did admit Allan was a target, despite United having agreed a £400,000 deal to take the player to West Bromwich Albion. "We will probably hear in the near future what is happening there. I hope he is [a Rangers supporter]. I hope he turns out to be a real Rangers player as well, but time will tell," said the Rangers manager.
Eskisehirspor, meanwhile, are interested in signing Derek Riordan, the former Hibernian and Celtic forward, as a replacement for Boyd.
Jim McArthur, Riordan's agent, has confirmed that Eskisehirspor are one of a number of clubs in Turkey that are aware of the 28-year-old's availability.
Riordan is a free agent after his contract at Chinese side Shaanxi Chanba was terminated by mutual consent last month. Kayserispor, the Turkish club managed by former Rangers striker Shota Arveladze, have also been linked with the forward.
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