Celtic have rebuffed an enquiry from Birmingham City for winger Aiden McGeady. Blues boss Alex McLeish is a long term admirer of the Republic of Ireland international and approached the SPL club yesterday over their valuation of the player.

McLeish was told that McGeady was not for sale but that is unlikely to detract him from making an official bid to test the Hoops’ board resolve. City are also interested in Liverpool’s Ryan Babel but – with the Reds rejecting an £8 million bid, saying they want £12 million for the Dutchman – they may decide that their reported £40 million January transfer kitty may be better spent on an offer for McGeady, who is said to be valued at £10 million.

A swap deal between McGeady and Birmingham’s Scotland striker Garry O’Connor had been on the cards back in October and, with Mowbray a known admirer of the former Hibs player, the Midlands club could include him in a transfer offer in a bid to sway the Celtic board and management.

Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung has promised McLeish sizeable transfer funds to strengthen his in-form team during the current transfer window. Birmingham currently sit eighth in the English Premier League and have gone 11 games without defeat, taking them to within an attainable five points of the Champions League qualification spots.

McGeady has been in good form of late and remains one of the SPL’s leading lights, tormenting defences with his trickery and explosive turn of pace. He has also been given a more expansive role by Tony Mowbray this season, finding himself starting counter attacks through the middle of the park and occasionally dropping in behind the strikers.

There is plenty interest in a number of Celtic’s first team squad, with regular starters and fringe players alike attracting transfer offers from south of the border.

Ex-boss Gordon Strachan, now with Middlesbrough, has opened talks over a potential triple transfer swoop for his former signings Gary Caldwell, Barry Robson and Willo Flood, although Celtic’s valuation of the trio is believed to be a sticking point for Strachan’s board at his new club.

Caldwell is also attracting interest from the English Premier League, with Wigan boss Roberto Martinez said to be casting his eye over the player, who is out of contract at the end of the season, at the recent Old Firm game.

Scott McDonald is also on the radar of Wigan, but Celtic value the striker at £3.5 million and the player’s agent has said his client has no desire to leave the Glasgow club unless he is asked to do so.