Leeds United priced out of summer move for Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths
Glasgow Evening Times 19/5/15
Times understands that while there has been a genuine interest from the troubled Championship club in the player, they would struggle to meet the Parkhead club's valuation of the 24-year-old.
The link with Griffiths is believed to be connected with Leeds' desire to make Celtic chief scout David Moss their technical director in the close season.
The two parties have spoken this month and the Yorkshire club believe they can persuade him to make the move south.
Moss, 46, has worked with Celtic since 2010, initially with their academy, and is the man Elland Road owner Massimo Cellino wants to help lead the club back to the Premier League.
Even if Leeds could find the money to make a serious bid, Celtic manager Ronny Deila is not about to allow the striker, who has enjoyed a fantastic second half to this title-winning campaign, walk out of the club.
The form of the former Hibs and Wolves man has seen him recalled into the Scotland squad to face the Republic of Ireland in the vital European qualifier in Dublin on June 13, which follows a friendly against Qatar eight days earlier at Easter Road.
Griffiths has scored 15 goals since the turn of the year for Celtic, including one against Rangers, and has enjoyed his best spell since he won the SPFA Player of the Year award two seasons ago while at Hibernian.
Strachan has been impressed with what he has seen of a player who has grown in stature over recent months. The Scotland manager said: "Griff has caught my eye with what he has been doing at Celtic.
"I just see the same player we had in the squad a year ago, but obviously a year more experienced. He is the same guy. He never causes us any problems whatsoever in training, he comes along and makes people laugh, scores goals and tries hard. You can't ask for any more.
"You are always on your toes for a headline somewhere down the line, which the press officer can handle ... apart from that he is great fun."
Griffiths took to twitter to reveal his feeling about the possibility of adding to his four senior caps.
"Ain't a better honour than pulling on a strip for your country! DELIGHTED to be called into the squad. Really looking forward to the game."
Griffiths is joined by Celtic team-mates Craig Gordon, Scott Brown, James Forrest and also Charlie Mulgrew, who is only now returning from injury. Strachan said: "He'll (Griffiths) be fresh because he didn't play too many games at the beginning of the season, a lot of substitute appearances. So he'll be fresh and you need to take that into consideration at this time of the year; who is fresh? Who needs games?
"Players can impress at training. Charlie and Leigh have been here before and they've had games before and if I felt as though they didn't have a genuine chance to play I would've brought in younger guys to fill some spaces. They've forced their way into the squad."
Times understands that while there has been a genuine interest from the troubled Championship club in the player, they would struggle to meet the Parkhead club's valuation of the 24-year-old.
The link with Griffiths is believed to be connected with Leeds' desire to make Celtic chief scout David Moss their technical director in the close season.
The two parties have spoken this month and the Yorkshire club believe they can persuade him to make the move south.
Moss, 46, has worked with Celtic since 2010, initially with their academy, and is the man Elland Road owner Massimo Cellino wants to help lead the club back to the Premier League.
Even if Leeds could find the money to make a serious bid, Celtic manager Ronny Deila is not about to allow the striker, who has enjoyed a fantastic second half to this title-winning campaign, walk out of the club.
The form of the former Hibs and Wolves man has seen him recalled into the Scotland squad to face the Republic of Ireland in the vital European qualifier in Dublin on June 13, which follows a friendly against Qatar eight days earlier at Easter Road.
Griffiths has scored 15 goals since the turn of the year for Celtic, including one against Rangers, and has enjoyed his best spell since he won the SPFA Player of the Year award two seasons ago while at Hibernian.
Strachan has been impressed with what he has seen of a player who has grown in stature over recent months. The Scotland manager said: "Griff has caught my eye with what he has been doing at Celtic.
"I just see the same player we had in the squad a year ago, but obviously a year more experienced. He is the same guy. He never causes us any problems whatsoever in training, he comes along and makes people laugh, scores goals and tries hard. You can't ask for any more.
"You are always on your toes for a headline somewhere down the line, which the press officer can handle ... apart from that he is great fun."
Griffiths took to twitter to reveal his feeling about the possibility of adding to his four senior caps.
"Ain't a better honour than pulling on a strip for your country! DELIGHTED to be called into the squad. Really looking forward to the game."
Griffiths is joined by Celtic team-mates Craig Gordon, Scott Brown, James Forrest and also Charlie Mulgrew, who is only now returning from injury. Strachan said: "He'll (Griffiths) be fresh because he didn't play too many games at the beginning of the season, a lot of substitute appearances. So he'll be fresh and you need to take that into consideration at this time of the year; who is fresh? Who needs games?
"Players can impress at training. Charlie and Leigh have been here before and they've had games before and if I felt as though they didn't have a genuine chance to play I would've brought in younger guys to fill some spaces. They've forced their way into the squad."
