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CELTIC will have to shell out a whopping £6million if they want to prise Nadir Ciftci and Stuart Armstrong away from Dundee United.

The Tannadice club are raging at having their prized assets linked with a move to Parkhead just days before the transfer window opens, particularly with United trailing Celts by only five points at the top of the Premiership.

The league leaders have made no contact with United over either player but Record Sport understands that both feature on a list of possible targets for manager Ronny Deila.

Ciftci and Armstrong both scored against the Hoops in United’s 2-1 victory at Tannadice earlier this month but they have been on Deila’s radar for most of the season.

Celtic had them watched against St Johnstone at the weekend and will consider making offers in the next few weeks, although they are prepared to wait until the summer to get their men.

However, United chairman Stephen Thompson will play hardball and, having brought in almost £6m in the summer with the sales of Andy Robertson to Hull City and Ryan Gauld to Sporting Lisbon, they don’t have to undersell their stars.

Thompson insisted his club wants to keep striker Ciftci and midfielder Armstrong, both 22, but accepts that every player has his price.

With Celtic having forked out more than £2m on the likes of Teemu Pukki and Amido Balde in the past, the Tayside outfit believe their wanted duo are worth more.

Thompson said: “We are not keen on selling anybody and don’t have to do so.

“But we understand there is a price for everybody and if a club makes an appropriate offer then we will have a decision to make.

“The important point is we have set the bar at a certain level in the summer and I don’t expect us to move that bar in a downward direction.

“We lost Andrew Robertson and Ryan Gauld but felt satisfied that we had been properly compensated.

“That would have to be the case with any of our players as we don’t have to sell those who are under contract.”

Striker Ciftci has become a fans’ favourite since his arrival from Dutch side NAC Breda in July 2013.

He netted 17 goals last term and has already chipped in with eight strikes this season.

Armstrong was on the books of Inverness as a kid but moved to United in 2009.

His impressive form earned a Scotland call-up last year.

Meanwhile, ex-United ace Gauld made his first-team debut for Sporting Lisbon last night in a cup-tie at Vitoria Guimaraes. He showed some nice touches in a 2-0 win.