Gemmell warns Bhoys over Keane as Pearce rules out City move

CELTIC legend Tommy Gemmell has urged the Parkhead club not to break the bank to land former Manchester United captain Roy Keane.

The Glasgow giants insist they are not currently involved in talks with the 34-year-old. And Hoops manager Gordon Strachan has yet to indicate whether or not he would like to add the Cork man to his in-form squad.

Keane’s reputed £90,000-a-week wage at United will be beyond Celtic’s budget and some kind of pay-per-play deal has been suggested.

Gemmell, who believes signing Keane would be a short-term measure, said: “The club have already said they have a ceiling as far as wages are concerned. It would not be right for them to go above that in these circumstances.

“He has been a great player and a very influential player at his peak, but I don’t know if it is worth going over the odds to get him now.”

Gemmell has expressed his hope that Celtic boss Strachan will be the man who holds the final say over any attempts to bring Keane to Glasgow.

The Hoops chief refused to discuss Keane, despite a club statement last week opening the door to possible negotiations with the Irishman.

Gemmell added: “I’m like everyone else in that I don’t know what the exact situation is with Celtic and Keane at the moment.

“But, for me, only Gordon Strachan is in a position to say whether or not the team needs him.”

Meanwhile Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce has quashed speculation linking him with a bid for Keane.

Said Pearce: “We’ve had no contact with Roy or his agent. I was asked about Roy Keane and all I said was that we’re on the look out for all good players. Sooner rather than later Roy will go wherever he’s probably got it in his mind to do so.”

Clubs throughout Europe have been linked with a move for Keane following his shock departure from Man United, with Peter Storrie - chairman of one of the interested parties, Portsmouth - claiming that as many as 40 teams are in the hunt for Keane’s signature.

However Valencia won’t be bidding - director of sport Javier Subirats insisted they already had sufficient midfield options and would not be pursuing Keane.

“The Irishman is a great player but he does not enter in our plans,” Subirats insisted.

“His position is already well covered in our team. It’s true that we were offered him, but we discarded the option.”