Balde still target for Bayern

Bayern Munich are still tracking Celtic defender Bobo Balde after running the rule over him at the recent Old Firm clash.

The 29-year-old has been targeted as a replacement for the Croatian centre-back Robert Kovac.

Uli Hoeness, the Bayern general manager, and coach Felix Magath were impressed with the powerful defender at Ibrox.

Even though the Guinean international recently signed a contract extension until 2008, the Bundesliga giants could yet make Celtic an offer they cannot refuse.

Hoeness said: “Balde hasn’t dropped out of our reckoning, in fact anything but. We have good memories of him.

“He is very strong in the air, and both Felix Magath and I were impressed with him. We plan to watch him again.

“We are on the look-out for a good central defender. We took a look at Benfica’s Brazilian Luisão but he did not get the thumbs up from us.

“But our scouts are busy looking at players. When they tell us about someone they like, we jump on a plane to go and see them.”