HIBS RUBBISH LATAPY MOVE RUMOURS

According to reports Celtic boss Martin 0'Neill was lining up a £250,000 bid for the player, hoping that Hibs would cash in on him rather than let him leave on a free transfer in the summer - as he is out of contract at the end of the campaign..

O'Neill is keen to strengthen his squad for next season's assault on the Champions League, and has targeted the midfield and forward positions as those he most wants to improve.

Celtic have already snapped up Frenchman Didier Agathe from Hibs this season and O'Neill was hoping to add the impressive Latapy to his squad in a cut-price deal.

Hibs managing director Rod Petrie revealed that no club had made an enquiry for Latapy, but that the player is free to talk to interested clubs outside the SPL.

"We have had no contact from any club about Russell," said Petrie. "The player remains under contract until the end of the season, although he is free to talk to clubs out of Scotland."

The 32-year-old attacking midfielder was left out of the squad that lost 2-1 at Dunfermline, after failing to agree a new deal which would have made the best ever paid Hibs player.

Easter Road boss Alex McLeish decided to leave him out as he thought his concentration would suffer as a result of the events.

"Russell did not play against Dunfermline because I did not think he was in the right frame of mind," said McLeish.

"He's unsettled. We had a very friendly chat when I told him he was not in the squad. It does not mean he won't play for us again."