Celtic move for Martinez after Moyes ruled out

Celtic made an official approach for Swansea manager Roberto Martinez on Monday, according to the English Championship club’s chairman.

The Glasgow team have been searching for a new boss since Gordon Strachan resigned last week in the aftermath of their failure to retain the Scottish title.

Reports suggested Everton manager David Moyes was top of Celtic’s wanted list but he ruled out a switch to Parkhead, forcing the Hoops to turn their attentions to Martinez.

Swans chairman Huw Jenkins claims Hoops chief executive Peter Lawwell called him to ask permission to speak to Martinez. Jenkins denied permission but could change his mind if the Spaniard wants to speak to Celtic.

“I had a call off their chief executive making me aware that they’d like to talk to Roberto,” Jenkins told BBC Sport.

“Like I’ve always done, I refused that until I’ve spoken to Roberto myself and talked things through.”

Martinez, who led Swansea to promotion from League One before narrowly missing out on a Championship play-off place this season, is also wanted by Wigan, who are planning for life without Steve Bruce after granting him permission to talk to Sunderland.

Moyes, a former Celtic defender, was considered a strong contender for the Parkhead job because he knows how hard it will be to establish Everton as a trophy-winning team when he has to face the financial power of Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea.

In Scotland, only Rangers are capable of competing with Celtic but even that doesn’t seem enough to tempt Moyes back to Scotland.

“There may well have been an inquiry from Celtic but that doesn’t interest me,” said Moyes, whose Everton team were beaten by Chelsea in Saturday’s FA Cup final.

“I am not tempted to take any steps. At the moment I am the Everton manager. I am a really loyal person.

“I am also really ambitious. I will make sure the chairman stays ambitious and the club remains ambitious. We can’t stop.

“After this I will have a holiday and then try to bring in one or two new players.”