Celtic's Bobo Balde is the latest player said to have been the reason for Roy Keane's trip to watch his former club beat Dundee United 2-1 at Parkhead on Tuesday. The Guinean wasn't involved in the match but is claimed to have met the Blues boss.

Town and Keane's Sunderland side were both linked with the 33-year-old a year ago, but the Marseille-born defender's £28,000-a-week wages were beyond what either club was willing to pay.

Balde has been with the Bhoys for eight years, having signed from Toulouse. The 6ft 3in tall defender spent time with his hometown club as well as loan spells with Mulhouse and Cannes during his time playing in his home country.

The 33-year-old, capped 27 times by Guinea, scoring four goals, was made available by the SPL champions last summer, but he remained at Parkhead, although he has failed to play a single game this season.

Reports in Scotland suggested yesterday that renewed interest in Balde wasn't the reason for Keane's trip to Scotland with Dundee United midfielder Morgaro Gomis said to have caught the Town manager's eye, while Celtic's Paul Hartley had previously been linked with Town and a number of other clubs.

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