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JACKIE McNAMARA last night admitted Dundee United are powerless to stop Nadir Ciftci choosing to join Celtic.

But while he doesn’t blame his star striker for being interested in a switch to Parkhead, the Tannadice boss insists the club will not simply roll over in transfer negotiations as they chase £1.5million for their prized-asset.

And McNamara has added that Ciftci won’t be leaving for Celtic or anywhere else in this transfer window unless United’s demands are met.

The Tannadice boss is facing another spell of uncertainty after the champions targeted his star striker.

Celtic have had bids of £900,000 and £1million kicked out by United but are keeping up their chase for Ciftci.

McNamara had to deal with Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay-Steven leaving for Glasgow’s east end in January and is now facing the prospect of his Turkish hitman following that pair.

As Ciftci has one year left on his contract and is able to leave for free next year, the United manager accepts his club are not in the strongest of bargaining positions.

But he is also adamant United will stand firm until a suitable deal is put on the table.

(Image: PA)

McNamara said: “Nadir has turned down Wigan and the other offers haven’t been enough for us to let him speak to anyone else.

“Nadir is fine. He understands what’s happening. It’s a saga every transfer window.

“It doesn’t change anything. I don’t know what’s going to happen or whether he’s going to be here or there.

“But I have to prepare as if he’s going to be here with us and the lad needs to do the same.

“I’ve not spoken to Nadir about it because there’s no need. The club hasn’t accepted anything from Celtic.

“Obviously there has been interest there but it’s not been enough for him to go and speak to them yet.

“He is not the first player to go into his last year. GMS did it last season and we don’t have a lot of power as a club.

“Stuart Armstrong would have been in the same position, it’s whether you write it off or get him to commit longer-term.

“The first day I came in here was just as the window was closing and there were rumours about Johnny Russell.

“It’s part and parcel of football but it shows we have a lot of good players at the club. You don’t see a lot of other clubs with the same problem.”

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McNamara’s former Parkhead team-mate, Pierre van Hooijdonk, is Ciftci’s agent and stated his client was “interested” and “flattered” by Celtic’s interest.

But McNamara has no gripe with such comments. He said: “He’s not going to tell lies about it. He will be flattered. Everyone wants to be wanted, whether it’s here or anywhere else.

“People like praise. I don’t see anything wrong with that.”

Van Hooijdonk insists Ciftci will not be pushed into a move he doesn’t want. He said: “There are only two offers on the table from two clubs.

“Nadir told Wigan he does not want to go there. If United accept an offer from Celtic we could talk.

“We don’t want to put the player in a situation he doesn’t want to be in.

“He is not desperate to go. Nadir is away with United to Holland next week. He is very comfortable in this situation. He is not panicking.

“When the offer is right for United and for the player, he will listen to the offer. If it isn’t, he won’t be forced to move.”

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