Mccann dismisses ‘low offer’ from Celtic

Manager Neil Mccann has confirmed that Dundee have knocked back a “very low” offer from Celtic for Jack Hendry.

Parkhead manager Brendan Rodgers has not disguised the fact that he would like to sign the Dark Blues central defender in this transfer window.

He has put a little bit of money where his mouth is by sanctioning a bid for Hendry but it has been rejected without a second thought by the Dens club.

It comes nowhere near Dundee’s valuation of the player they signed from Wigan Athletic in the summer on a two-year contract.

Mccann is obviously in no hurry to lose a prize asset so is happy to sit back and wait to see if the Hoops pay the kind of cash the Dark Blues will be unable to resist.

Speaking ahead of today’s match at Hamilton, Mccann said: “There’s been a bid, a low bid, very low, but nothing since. I would think there would be more interest in the player but clearly they (Celtic) were told it wasn’t enough and that will be the message if it continues in that vein.”

Celtic signed defender Marvin Compper earlier in the transfer window but the German has since suffered an injury. Also, Danish centrehalf Erik Sviatchenko has been loaned to his former club FC Midtjylland until the end of the season.

Rodgers was asked if he is still intent on getting fresh faces in.

He said: “We have to. There’s no question that’s something we need to do.

“I’m very happy with the group of players that I have. We’ll also have some returning from injury who will make us stronger again. But we wanted to bring in players in this window who would add quality. Sometimes that takes a wee bit of time.

“You’re not just relying on going and paying the money.

“You need to rely on the timing from the other team so we’re hopeful we can bring in that quality.”

Meanwhile, Dundee boss Mccann also confirmed that he is “aware” of striker Aaron Burns but played down the likelihood of the Dark Blues signing him.

The 25-year-old Linfield player has also been linked with Crawley Town in England and they would appear to be favourites to land him.

Mccann said: “I’m aware of Aaron over there but there’s nothing to tell you.

“I was told today that Dundee and Crawley were in for him and I’m aware of the boy but there is nothing in terms of signing him.

“There are another three, four days to go (in the transfer window) and we’ve got a game in between (next Tuesday’s Scottish Cup replay at Inverness is on the eve of deadline day) which sort of disrupts your chances to go fully focusing on players because you are focused on the job in hand.

“However, I would love to get some business done.”