CELTIC have thrown their full financial muscle behind an astonishing bid to land Rangers idol Kris Boyd.
Hoops chiefs will match the £30,000 a week on offer from Birmingham City gaffer Alex McLeish.
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell is ready to splash out a £1million signing-on fee to persuade Boyd to turn his back on Gers and sign for their biggest rivals.
Lawwell has been in touch with the player's camp over the last week and has refused to let his pursuit of prolific striker Boyd drop.
Now the 26-year-old hitman will today return from a family holiday in Tenerife with his mind in a whirl over his football future.
Rangers goal machine Boyd is fully aware of the repercussions of agreeing to swap the Light Blues for the Hoops.
It's the most important move of his career and every option must be pondered.
Boyd, who scored 26 goals for the SPL champs last season, is available on a free transfer.
If Celtic supremo Lawwell pulls off the daring cloak and dagger swoop with the full backing of caretaker boss Neil Lennon it would be the most sensational Old Firm transfer since Mo Johnston snubbed the Hoops and joined Gers instead in 1989.
Back then Graeme Souness smashed down the religious barrier and landed Rangers' first high-profile Catholic signing.
Now, 21 years on, Celtic's driven desire to halt Gers' title march at two-in- a-row sees them pursuing Boyd in the knowledge that his capture would be a massive bodyblow to the skint champions.
Boyd has felt undervalued at Gers in recent seasons as the salary packages dished out to stars like both Steven Davis and Pedro Mendes dwarfed those of the man who broke Celtic icon Henrik Larsson's SPL scoring record.
He cut a forlorn figure at the Ibrox title party after the win at Hibs following another devastating demotion to the bench.
Now, as he sifts through offers from Turks Kayserispor and the Premier League - with Newcastle United high on the list of moves he'd crave if he has to go - Boyd has been given a chance to take the most astonishing path out of Ibrox of all.
From the Scottish Sun, so probably a load of ****, but it would be very interesting if it did happen. Any thoughts?
Hoops chiefs will match the £30,000 a week on offer from Birmingham City gaffer Alex McLeish.
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell is ready to splash out a £1million signing-on fee to persuade Boyd to turn his back on Gers and sign for their biggest rivals.
Lawwell has been in touch with the player's camp over the last week and has refused to let his pursuit of prolific striker Boyd drop.
Now the 26-year-old hitman will today return from a family holiday in Tenerife with his mind in a whirl over his football future.
Rangers goal machine Boyd is fully aware of the repercussions of agreeing to swap the Light Blues for the Hoops.
It's the most important move of his career and every option must be pondered.
Boyd, who scored 26 goals for the SPL champs last season, is available on a free transfer.
If Celtic supremo Lawwell pulls off the daring cloak and dagger swoop with the full backing of caretaker boss Neil Lennon it would be the most sensational Old Firm transfer since Mo Johnston snubbed the Hoops and joined Gers instead in 1989.
Back then Graeme Souness smashed down the religious barrier and landed Rangers' first high-profile Catholic signing.
Now, 21 years on, Celtic's driven desire to halt Gers' title march at two-in- a-row sees them pursuing Boyd in the knowledge that his capture would be a massive bodyblow to the skint champions.
Boyd has felt undervalued at Gers in recent seasons as the salary packages dished out to stars like both Steven Davis and Pedro Mendes dwarfed those of the man who broke Celtic icon Henrik Larsson's SPL scoring record.
He cut a forlorn figure at the Ibrox title party after the win at Hibs following another devastating demotion to the bench.
Now, as he sifts through offers from Turks Kayserispor and the Premier League - with Newcastle United high on the list of moves he'd crave if he has to go - Boyd has been given a chance to take the most astonishing path out of Ibrox of all.
From the Scottish Sun, so probably a load of ****, but it would be very interesting if it did happen. Any thoughts?