Strachan hopes for Kadlec deal

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has not given up hope of signing Sparta Prague defender Michal Kadlec.

Talks have been ongoing between both parties for several weeks and the 21-year-old’s representative gave him a 50-50 chance of joining the Scottish champions.

The move appeared to be put on hold while Strachan masterminded the capture of Chelsea midfielder Jiri Jarosik, who penned a three-year deal yesterday.

But the Hoops boss intends to strengthen his squad further before they begin their defence of the Bank of Scotland Premier League title.

And he insists Kadlec remains high on his wanted list.

“We’re still talking,” he said. “There could be another two or three coming in but it depends on the budget.”

New Celtic signing Jarosik – who spent last season on loan at Birmingham - admits he would love his fellow Czech to join him at Celtic.

“He is a good friend of mine and it would be good to have him here with me,” he said.

“I have spoken to him about that a little bit.”

Meanwhile, Strachan expects skipper Neil Lennon to sign a new deal after he reports for pre-season training on Friday.

The veteran midfielder’s contract expired at the end of the season but Strachan has assured fans there will be no repeat of Jackie McNamara’s shock departure, when he joined Wolves last year after Celtic dragged their heels over a new contract.

“Yes, he will be offered a contract, of course he will,” he said.

“It’s one of these things where we’ve just never got round to sitting down and talking about it.

“I think we know we’re going to sign a contract and we’re not worried about it.

“Once we get together, we’ll get it sorted.”

And the Celtic manager insists Stilian Petrov will also be part of his plans for the new season, despite a failed transfer request towards the end of last term.

“I see no reason why he wouldn’t be here,” said Strachan. “What difference does a transfer request make?

“It has made no difference because he is still here.

“I keep reverting back to what I did in 1982 with Aberdeen. I handed in a transfer request and I was there for two years and picked up something like five trophies.

“I’ve got no plans to sit down with anybody, other than to tell him that the priority when they come back is to win the championship.”

Winning the SPL title is also the main aim of Jarosik next season.

He said: “I want to play at the top level and I also want to win the championship here.

“I won it at Sparta Prague, I won it in Russia with CSKA and with Chelsea in England so it would be great to win a fourth title.

“It’s a new challenge for me to try to win every match.

“I would like to settle down and be an integral part of the team.”