O'Neill admits interest in Rivaldo

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill today confirmed he is interested in signing Rivaldo.

The former Brazilian World Cup star has been close to completing a move to Bolton but after discussions the deal has not yet been completed.

Now it has emerged that the Parkhead boss has expressed his wish to land the former Barcelona and AC Milan striker.

O’Neill said: “Like anything else we’d prefer to keep these things quiet – we have been linked with so many players.

“But the truth is when somebody like Rivaldo becomes available you have got to be interested.”

O'Neill was reluctant to talk about the clutch of stars already being linked with moves to Parkhead.

Everton defender Gary Naysmith and Chelsea striker Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink are the latest names to be touted.

O'Neill said: “Perhaps this is more about the agents talking than anything else during the last couple of weeks.

“One of the things which is appealing to me is getting in short-term players.

“Bolton have done very well in getting some too-class players to the football club.

“So we have got to be looking at that type of player.

“I wouldn’t want to be giving any bookmakers odds and it might be a move of great difficulty – but he is a class player that we would be looking to buy.”

O’Neill wants to strengthen his squad in the summer in order to improve upon his side’s performances in Europe.

Henrik Larsson is one player that needs to be replaced with the Swede due to leave Parkhead at the end of the season.

Larsson will be a hard act to follow but O’Neill has vowed to leave no stone unturned in his bid to find the right players.

“We know Henrik is leaving and so will other players, so we have to explore all possibilities,” he said.