French side Bordeaux warn Celtic off signing striker Fernando Cavenaghi

Jul 20 2008 Exclusive by Mark Guidi

FRENCH giants Bordeaux have warned Celtic to stay away from £6million-rated star striker Fernando Cavenaghi.

The Hoops were prepared to splash the cash for the Argentinian ace who bagged 24 goals in 44 appearances last season for his side.

But Bordeaux paid s6m to sign him from Spartak Moscow last year and want to keep the hitman.

The initial chat between the clubs left the SPL champions in no doubt there was little point pursuing the former River Plate ace who has three caps.

According to reports from France the 24-year-old was keen to talk to Celtic but Bordeaux would not allow it.

Contact was made last month but Celtic have since signed Georgios Samaras from Manchester City.

However, they are keen to add more new faces to their squad and hope to tie up the signing of Auxerre centre-half Gabriel Tamas this week.

Talks between the clubs over a fee of around s3.75m are going well and a deal should be finalised soon.

And it may be concluded in time for Tamas to jet out to Portugal to join the club's pre season tour.

Celtic who lost 3-1 to Fulham yesterday, play three games in six days against Cardiff, Middlesbrough and Porto in the Algarve Challenge Cup.