O'Neill: I want to do deals

Celtic manager Martin O‘Neill today assured fans that he was working hard behind the scenes to bring in new signings.

While Rangers have been busy in the transfer market to wrest power back to Ibrox, the champions have yet to pounce.

But anxious fans, awaiting a replacement for Henrik Larsson and more top-class names, need not be too concerned.

O‘Neill said: “I have certain people in mind and I will be pursuing those people as strongly as we possibly can.

“We have no qualifying game for the Champions League this season and we have just about a month before the season starts – but obviously we would like to get people in as quickly as possible.

“However I am not remotely bothered about some of the media speculation that has gone on.

“We will endeavour to do something relatively quickly but I am not going to be rushed into anything.

“We seem to have been linked with every single available player this summer and it has been news to me on a number of them.

“I will have a look around because we want to improve the squad – and it has always been our intention to do something about it.”

O‘Neill did lose out to Rangers for Nacho Novo but the Hoops boss does not hold a grudge against him.

The Dundee man gave the fallen champions an early victory over their fiercest rivals by snubbing Parkhead for Ibrox.

But O‘Neill said: “We put an offer into Dundee which we had to do in order to get permission to speak to the player.

“It was very clear in the 15-minute or so conversation that we had with him that he had set his mind on a move to Rangers and that is absolutely not a problem.

“There was no actual offer put to him and it is entirely his prerogative that he opted to go to Rangers and I have no problem with that because he made it clear that was his preference.”

O‘Neill is bemused by some of the names being linked with with a move to the east end of Glasgow – including former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

The Northern Irishman told Celticfc.net: “There has been absolutely no contact between any agents or any people with regards to Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.”

Meanwhile, Czech Republic defender Martin Jiranek today revealed Celtic is his preferred destination after his Euro 2004 performances sparked a bidding war.

The 25-year-old right-back is currently under contract at Italian outfit Reggina and valued at around the £2m (€3m) mark.

He played in four of his nation‘s games in Portugal before being ruled out of the semi-final with Greece because of a groin injury.

Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk – possible opponents for Rangers in the Champions league qualifiers – are known to be Celtic‘s rivals for his signature.

A move to the Russian league has also been mooted but so far a switch to Glasgow is the one that appeals the most.

Jiranek told the Czech Republic’s Daily Sport: “I am pleased with all the offers, but if I were to choose, I would prefer Celtic.

“I like the good name and history of Celtic. It is a very famous team.

“As far as I know, the Russian league is a very high standard. I would not fight against the transfer to this league. Many other Czech players have gone there and they were mostly satisfied.

“(Shakhtar Donetsk) is not that attractive.”

But Jiranek added: “We have some time. We will study the possible offers and we shall see.

“Maybe some more offers will arrive. There is not need to hurry. First I have to treat my injury, than we shall see.”

However, Jiranek‘s Euro 2004 colleague Marek Heinz has cancelled a holiday in case Celtic want to begin negotiations straight away.

The Banik Ostrava striker netted a superb free-kick in the 2-1 defeat of Germany – a factor in the club doubling his price tag to more than £2million.

But the lure of a place in the group stage of the Champions League was strong, the player admitted.

He said: “Celtic are one of the clubs I am interested in. One of the reasons is that they regularly play in Champions League.

“I do not know when the negotiations will begin. My agent told me to be available on the phone.

“I promised my wife we would go for a week to the seaside but the planned vacation is now off and I am waiting on the phone.

“I would like to play abroad and now there is a chance, it is more important than vacation.

“I do not know how many clubs are interested but it should be decided soon.

“Right now, I do not prefer anybody. The quality of the offer will decide.”

Heinz has a year on his current contract still to run and Banik have already indicated they are prepared to sell now.