Celtic boss Strachan can't afford the men he dismisses as Euro 2008 flops

And the Parkhead boss admitted he would even be priced out of the market for lesser players who had not impressed him at Euro 2008.

Tight budget: Strachan has been impressed by Dutch No10 Wesley Sneijder but admits he is out of his price range

He said: "Could I afford my favourite player at the tournament? Absolutely not. I couldn't afford Fernando Torres' and David Villa's weekly or monthly wage.

"I have been impressed by Wesley Sneijder, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Torres - but I can't afford some of the ones I don't even like."

Strachan knows he doesn't have to fork out for the best goalkeeper at Euro 2008 because Pole Artur Boruc is already at Parkhead.

"He's the best here," claimed Strachan.

Celtic boss Strachan, pictured above left as a pundit for the BBC at Euro 2008, believes Artur Boruc is the best goalkeeper at the tournament

No Scotland stars are at the Finals but Strachan believes the nation can end a 12-year exile from major competitions by qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

"Our club and international ranking is up so we definitely have a chance of qualifying," said the Celtic boss. "Scotland put up a good show in the qualifiers. You are talking about a team that beat France twice.

"The thing about Scotland is, no matter what the team is like, the fans can add to the occasion. It would have been good for them to come here. The Tartan Army would have behaved themselves, that's for sure."

Meanwhile, stricken Switzerland captain Alexander Frei is losing his race against time to impress Strachan.

The Borussia Dortmund striker has been told he does not require surgery on the left knee he injured in the Euro 2008 opener against the Czech Republic.

But Frei, named by the Parkhead manager as a potential transfer target, will not be fit to play for another seven weeks - just three weeks before the transfer window closes on August 31.

"I have been told it will be six or seven weeks before I can play again," said the 28-year-old. "I have the left knee in a support."

Celtic have been linked with the forward on two or three occasions and both the player and Strachan have spoken in the last 10 days about the current interest.