Lafferty and Riordan in swap link

Last summer both Wolves and Fulham made bids which were turned down by the Clarets, and a year ago we turned down an offer from Celtic of £500,000. If speculation is to be believed there are any number of clubs he might go to and the player himself fuelled that speculation recently in a television interview after the 3-2 win at Wolves.

It's Celtic again at the moment, if the reporting of the Belfast press is to be believed. They are claiming that the SPL leaders are set to use striker Derek Riordan as bait to try and tempt Owen Coyle to part with Irishman Lafferty.

Coyle said recently that he hadn't made an inquiry for Riordan but it is thought that he is an admirer of the former Hibs striker who hasn't been able to hold down a place at Celtic since joining them in the summer of 2006.

If Celtic are to get Lafferty, and the indication from Turf Moor is that we would prefer him to remain at Burnley, they will have to offer considerably more than they did a year ago with or without Riordan.