Michael O'Neill insists it's "highly unlikely" James McClean will join Celtic in the coming weeks.
That's despite the Stoke City boss admitting Financial Fair Play considerations means all his squad are available at the right price.
O'Neill dismissed the "rumour" as mere social media chatter and stated he doesn't want to lose the Ireland international winger.
McClean is a boyhood Celtic fan and has been consistently linked with the club over the years.
But while his current manager has a need to trim a bloated squad, he doesn't expect to lose the 31-year-old before the transfer window closes.
He told Stoke-on-Trent Live : "I think that’s probably just a rumour that’s been created by someone - and it certainly hasn’t come from our end. James isn’t a player, equally, that we are looking to lose at this minute in time.
"The nature of the transfer window is such that you have to be flexible and if any situation arises with any player you have to give it consideration, particularly where we are at this minute in time.
"We have to obviously deal with the rules of Financial Fair Play and deal with a squad which is bloated.
"James is no different from any other player in the squad and if the situation arose we’d have to consider it but at this minute in time, I think that would be highly unlikely."
