The rebuilding of Celtic has continued with the signing of Scottish internationalist Craig Burley from Chelsea for a fee of #2.5m. The 25-year-old has agreed to a five-year contract with the club, and will make his debut in tomorrow's friendly against Parma.

He is the second signing the Parkhead club have made since Wim Jansen became head coach, and like Darren Jackson before him, Burley was initially targeted by the previous Celtic manager, Tommy Burns.

Like Jackson, the new coach has only seen Burley play on video. It seems not only has Jansen inherited the house that Tommy built, he is also getting the extensions chosen by - but denied - his predecessor.

Jansen was not present at yesterday's press conference announcing the deal, but in the absence of the man in charge of technical affairs at Celtic Park, the general manager, Jock Brown, told us how Burley will fit into the scheme of things.

''In terms of what Craig brings to the club, we have pursued him for his Chelsea position. Our interest in him is in a central midfield role rather than his Scottish position as a wide right-wing back,'' Brown said. Burley's international position is, of course, decided by Jock's brother, Craig, the national team manager.

''He comes approaching the peak of his career and the fact that the contract is for five years shows the commitment on both sides,'' Brown said.

Burley was in dispute with Chelsea over a possible extension to his contract, which still had nine months to run. He seemed relieved to have his future mapped out for him.

''I am delighted to join Celtic and to get my future sorted out. My contract talks with Chelsea had been dragging on for the past few months and I am looking forward to getting settled down and playing some football,'' Burley said.

Chelsea manager Ruud Gullit had made it fairly obvious that Burley was surplus to requirements when he dropped him for last season's FA Cup final, despite the fact he had played 40 games for the club.

This deal suited all parties.

Celtic's resources in midfield have been a little threadbare, particularly after the retirement of Paul McStay through injury. Burley's physical presence will bolster them, although he does not see himself as a direct replacement for the former captain.

''I am not here to fill the shoes of Paul McStay, I will play my own game,'' Burley said. ''I just want to play regularly in the midfield, although I can also fill in at full back and sweeper.''

The signing of Burley is another move in Celtic's game of playing catch-up with Rangers. The player himself admits to being a little ignorant of the domestic game in Scotland, but thinks the difference in quality between the sides has been exaggerated.

''Certainly, I hope we can bridge the gap,'' Burley said. ''I don't know how big a gap it is, but having watched a few games on television, I don't think the differences are that great.''

This is not the first time that Celtic have tried to sign Burley. ''I talked to Chelsea about Craig last December, but they indi-cated that their manager did not want to lose the player at that time,'' said Celtic chief executive Fergus McCann. ''Tommy Burns was anxious that we had a top-notch player in the midfield area, however, and I told Chelsea to get back in touch if the situation changed, and they did.''

Had the player been signed when Burns was in charge things may, of course, have been different. Burns would probably have expected to appear at the press conference.

''We are a bit short of players because of injuries and player problems, but we are about team-building, not keeping stars happy,'' McCann added.

The contentment of Paolo Di Canio was, of course, what McCann was referring to and the Italian has apparently lodged a medical certificate with the club, confirming that all is not well.

''The certificate indicates that the player is suffering from some sort of 'adjustment depression','' Brown said.

''Happily, it does not make any reference at all to an in-capacity to travel. On that basis, I have asked him to get back here fast, whereupon he can be examined.''

''If he does not come back, I would regard that as a breach of contract,'' Brown warned.

Whether Di Canio does get on the next plane to Glasgow or not, it seems Jorge Cadete will not be leaving his home in Portugal in the near future. Brown confirmed that nothing has changed with regard to his medical condition.

Brown also indicated that he may be on the brink of announcing another new signing, possibly today.

The likelihood is that player will be Henrik Larsson, from Feyenoord.