SOCCER: Celtic have insisted they made every effort to hold on to Jackie McNamara, despite the player's claims Wolves worked harder to sign him. McNamara joined the Molineux club on a two-year-deal yesterday, bringing his 10-year spell at Parkhead to an end.

The defender - whose final game was his testimonial match against the Republic of Ireland - was expected to extend his stay at Celtic but was disappointed they were only willing to offer a one-year extension.

McNamara verbally agreed the move to Wolves by phone on Monday night but has revealed how Celtic stepped up their attempts to retain him while he was on his way to Wolverhampton for a medical.

The Scottish side claim they matched the offer of a two-year deal as well as improving the terms but insist McNamara leaves with their best wishes.

A Celtic spokesman told the club's official website: "Celtic offered Jackie a greatly improved deal and, contrary to reports, we offered Jackie a two-year contract with the club.

"Naturally, we are disappointed that Jackie has chosen not to accept our offer but this is clearly his prerogative to do so.

"We wish Jackie well for the future after the contribution he has made to the club."

Celtic's list of targets for next season includes Tottenham and Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane.

Celtic's manager Gordon Strachan worked with Keane at Coventry and is weighing up a move for Ireland's top all-time scorer at senior international level.

Other forwards being considered include Southampton's Kevin Phillips and Norwich City's Darren Huckerby, who was sold by Strachan at Coventry a week before Keane joined the club in August 1999.

Meanwhile, Scott Parker flew into Tyneside last night where the 24-year-old England midfielder will complete his £6.5 million transfer from Chelsea to Newcastle United today.

Parker is interrupting his holiday in Portugal - he was in the same complex as Newcastle captain Alan Shearer - to travel to Newcastle where he will sign a three- or four-year contract.

Newcastle's manager Graeme Souness is also interrupting a holiday to return this morning and later it is expected Parker will be unveiled at a press conference after his medical.

Souness hopes that the Turkey midfielder Emre Belozoglu of Inter Milan will be the next recruit to St James' Park with the defender Daniel van Buyten - again hopefully - to follow from Hamburg.

Parker moved to Chelsea from Charlton only 17 months ago - for £10 million - but was not a regular even for the man who signed him, Claudio Ranieri.

When Jose Mourinho succeeded Ranieri, Parker remained behind Claude Makalele and Frank Lampard in the pecking order and last season Parker's chances were further limited by injury.

Souness also has a new striker as a priority but it is understood that is now unlikely to be Keane. At the end of last season Souness spoke admiringly of Crystal Palace's Andy Johnson.

Middlesbrough's Mark Viduka is on Newcastle's list of potential targets, but is not top of it.