Reports claim Celtic have offered £2.75million plus Derek Riordan, and the promise of a friendly match, for the Northern Ireland international.

That offer would be an improvement on an unsuccessful bid made by Celtic in January, when Burnley manager Owen Coyle also failed in an attempt to sign out-of-favour Riordan.

Celtic are said to rate forward Riordan at £1million but are unlikely to be offered that for a player who is out of contract next summer and only played a handful of games last season.

Burnley are thought to want around £4million for Lafferty, leaving both clubs closer to a deal.

But a spokeswoman for the Coca-Cola Championship club said: "Nothing has been agreed, no acceptable offers have come in."

Wolves and Rangers are also in the hunt for the 20-year-old, a boyhood fan of the Ibrox club.

Lafferty, who has two years left on his contract, revealed his desire to move on from Turf Moor last month.