Tony Mowbray will not be rushed into making acquisitions simply to comply with the Champions League qualifying round deadline, according to the man who will help the Celtic manager to launch a new era at the club.

Mark Venus, the new assistant, dismissed suggestions yesterday that Steven Fletcher will soon arrive at Celtic Park in a £4million move, despite the fact that Mowbray tried to recruit the Scotland striker to West Bromwich Albion last January when Gordon Strachan also failed in a bid to bring Fletcher to Celtic.

With Paul Hartley and Bobo Balde on the verge of adding to the departure of Shunsuke Nakamura, Celtic have scope for new signings but Mowbray wants to take his time to find the right personnel, rather than be forced into a deal for one of the plethora of players being linked with the club just now. One of those, Mourad Meghni, the Lazio midfield player, is not on Celtic's radar, according to Venus.

“We've lost a couple from the squad and we will be trying to replace them,” Venus said. “I don't care how long it takes to get the right player into the club. If they have to miss the Champions League qualifier, so be it. I would not want to panic to bring a player in to do a job on July 27 when I might be bringing him in for the next four years.”

Venus knows all about the pedigree of Fletcher, having been assistant to Mowbray at Hibernian when the striker emerged. “Steven has done well for them and scored a lot of goals but I don't know if his future is here,” Venus said. Of Meghni, a 24-year-old French midfield player, Venus said: “I've never heard of him. Everyone is going to be connected with Celtic.”

Midfield players, though, could be thin on the ground if Hartley copies Nakamura - who is joining Espanyol, of Spain - and exercises his right as a free agent when his contract expires on June 30. The 32-year-old Scotland player has been offered a two-year deal by Iraklis after visiting the Greek club this week, and Heart of Midlothian also want to take Hartley back to Tynecastle.

Another whose contract has expired is Bobo Balde. The Guinea central defender, who rarely featured under Strachan, revealed yesterday that he has been offered a switch to Birmingham City or Burnley.

“Birmingham want me on trial for pre-season and told me there will be a two-year contract on the table if I do well,” he said. “Burnley have also made me an offer, but unconditional. I will have to have a think about things before I decide my future.”