Auxerre attempt to lure Celtic into a bidding war for defender Gabriel

Auxerre president Jean-Claude Hamel claims that two unnamed clubs on the Continent have already submitted official bids for the £4million-rated 24-year-old.

Tamas is said to have set his sights on a switch to Glasgow after learning of the interest of the Scottish champions and is ready to cut short a break in Romania at a moment's notice. 

In demand: Romania star Tamas is being chased by several clubs says the Auxerre president

In an apparent attempt to start a bidding war, however, Auxerre supremo Hamel insisted: 'I have heard of an interest in Gabriel from Celtic but there has been no official contact between the two clubs and no offer.

'We have two other clubs interested in signing him and who have made official approaches but, as yet, nothing from Celtic.

'A deal could still be done but only if certain conditions are met. If these aren't met, then there will be no deal.' 

Reports in Bucharest yesterday claimed that Tamas is seeking a mammoth pay deal worth £32,000 a week.

As rogue agents throng around in search of a slice of the pie, however, the player's Romania-based representative, Giovanni Becali, insisted money should be no obstacle.

He insists there is Parkhead interest in the player, who is currently earning £7,000-a-week at Auxerre, and said: 'Celtic are very interested in Gabriel and he is very interested in them.

'He knows they are a very big club and that they have an excellent manager in Gordon Strachan. He would like to play for Celtic and they are very much the frontrunners.

'Gabriel knows about Celtic but we haven't gone into depth with him over the history of the club. There is no point until there is a firm deal on the table. The problem could be the fee.

'I have spoken to Auxerre and they want a lot of money for him - as much as five or six million Euros.

'Gabriel also has expectations over what sort of wage he wants but we can talk money after we see what happens with the clubs.'