Celtic manager Martin O'Neill claimed today that signing a new goalkeeper to challenge Scottish internationals Rab Douglas and Jonathan Gould is one of his main targets.
He offered a terse "no comment" when asked about his club's interest in Arsenal's Austrian goalkeeper Alex Manninger who became third in line at Highbury a year ago when the Gunners signed England under-21 player Richard Wright as understudy to David Seaman.
But O'Neill said: "Of course we are in the market. With Dmitri Kharine leaving we only have the two goalkeepers.
"The young players we have are decent players but they are just that, they are up and coming."
But O'Neill stressed he is not just looking for cover in the event of injury to Douglas and Gould.
"You would want someone to come in and challenge the other two," he said.
Defenders Bobo Balde and Didi Agathe who suffered head injuries when they collided during Wednesday night's 3-2 pre-season victory at Portsmouth, expect to be fit for tomorrow's game at Queens Park Rangers.
"Bobo got cut on the middle of the head and Didi down the side.
"Didi also has a sore groin and if he is all right to play he will. I think they want to play and hopefully both are okay," said O'Neill.
The only absentee is likely to be Joos Valgaeren who has picked up an ankle injury on his return to action following a hernia operation which kept him out of last season's Scottish Cup final and the World Cup finals with Belgium.