Nordsjaelland boss Flemming Pedersen has claimed his side had an "opportunity" to land Karamoko Dembele in January.
The 18-year-old has been linked with a host of clubs but it's understood the England youth international remains under contract until next summer.
Dembele burst onto the scene as a 14-year-old in 2016 when he made his debut for the reserves and sponsorship deals and lofty predictions have followed.
But he has only made seven senior appearances with many Celtic followers vexed that he wasn't given a chance to impress more often during the second half of the season.
And now the Nordsjaelland manager insists his side explored an opportunity to secure him when Neil Lennon was still in the dugout.
Flemming said: “He turned up as an opportunity in the winter.
“Often, when it comes out, the media is half a year late to it. When something comes out, it’s often four or six months late, but there is nothing now.
“There were talks in the winter, but it was something that we ourselves helped to shut down.
“At that time, we thought we had the players we needed.“
Dembele will be hoping to impress new Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou with the Australian facing some big calls this summer.
