Celtic approach Swansea's Martinez

Soccer: Celtic have made an official approach for Swansea boss Roberto Martinez, according to the Coca-Cola Championship club…

Soccer:Celtic have made an official approach for Swansea boss Roberto Martinez, according to the Coca-Cola Championship club's chairman.

Swans supremo Huw Jenkins claims Hoops chief executive Peter Lawwell called him to ask permission to speak to Martinez, which he refused until he had discussed the approach with the Spaniard.

"I had a call off their chief executive making me aware that they'd like to talk to Roberto," said Jenkins to BBC Sport.

"Like I've always done, I refused that until I've spoken to Roberto myself and talked things through."

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Martinez, who is currently on holiday in Spain, joined Swansea in 2007 and guided the club to the League One title in his first season, before almost taking them to the Championship play-offs during the recent campaign.

And although Jenkins will discuss Swansea's future with Martinez upon his return, he knows the lure of the Champions League could prove to be a decisive factor.

"I'll probably speak to him (Martinez) between now and Wednesday but later on in the week he'll be back home to run through his thoughts with me," Jenkins said.

"First and foremost, it's about his position here and how we see that, and we'll consider all that first before any sort of what else he may do.

"I think you've got to respect that type of club Celtic are and what opportunities exists - perhaps not in the League but certainly in the Champions League - and the size of the club.

"Naturally, I suppose that interest would require anybody to sit and consider their position.

"It's basically up to him how he sees it, I think there's certainly no possibility in us forcing any issue. Roberto has got to consider his future and where his commitment lies."

Martinez, who still has three years remaining on his contract with Swansea, played in Scotland for Motherwell and has also been linked with a move to Wigan.

At 35, he is one of the youngest managers in British league football.

Gordon Strachan quit as Celtic boss a week ago and Burnley's Owen Coyle was immediately installed as the favourite to replace him.

Lawwell reportedly sounded out Coyle after he led the Clarets into the top flight of English football for the first time in 33 years.

But all parties insisted no official approach was made, as is the case with West Brom's Tony Mowbray, who was the other favourite for the post.

Martinez is therefore the first candidate to be confirmed as being on Celtic's hitlist.

But Jenkins has also revealed he has taken calls from Spanish side Real Sociedad and is also expecting Wigan to make an approach for him.

Asked if he had taken a call from Latics chairman Dave Whelan, Jenkins told BBC Sport Wales: "I'd probably be surprised if I didn't have one but again we'll have to see what happens over the next few days.

"We'll do everything in our power to keep him (Martinez) but ultimately it always comes down to the individual himself, how he feels and what we wants to do and what he wants to do with the next step of his career really."

Jenkins has also spoken to Sociedad about Martinez, with the Spanish side keen to appoint him as their manager.

"We have had a few brief calls, nothing more than that, which is quite natural with the season we've had and the publicity he's had he's probably quite high on a number of people's lists which is good in one respect but obviously it can also bad in some other ways," he said.