Celtic manager Tony Mowbray says he is aware of Hull City's interest in right-back Andreas Hinkel but does not expect any move in the near future.
Hull manager Phil Brown is an admirer of the 27-year-old German defender and is looking to bolster his squad.
But Mowbray suggested there was only a "slim chance" of the German leaving the club ahead of the Champions League qualifying ties against Arsenal.
"No firm contact has been made and so we will wait and see," Mowbray said.
Hinkel, who joined Celtic midway through the 2007/08 season in a £1.9m deal from Sevilla having previously been with Stuttgart, was in the Celtic side that started the Scottish Premier League season with a 3-1 win away to Aberdeen.
"We are aware of some interest and there has been interest since the day I came here," said Mowbray after the victory at Pittodrie.
"I don't think Andreas is in any rush to leave this football club and we are in no rush to move him on.
People know we're in the market for a right-back
Hull City manager Phil Brown
"But, as I said before, if we are going to rotate our squad around and improve certain areas then, if the right deal comes along for this club, we will assess it and see if it is something that we want to do or not.
"But I would suggest that there is a very slim chance that he will be away before Tuesday night."
Celtic have right-back Mark Wilson missing through injury, so Paul Caddis would deputise should Hinkel leave.
"We are in a financial situation, like all clubs, where we are moving players about to improve the team," said Mowbray.
"But, while young Caddis has done well in pre-season games, it is a big game to thrown him into, so I would suggest that Andreas will still be here on Tuesday."
SPL clubs have been hit hard financially by the loss of the Setanta broadcasting deal and Celtic could accept a bid for Hinkel even if they qualify for the group stages of the Champions League.
Hinkel had impressed Brown during a pre-season friendly.
Brown attended Celtic's 0-0 draw at Cardiff and it is believed that the Barclays Premier League club will make a formal approach for the defender.
"We've had a look at him," Brown told BBC Radio Humberside last week.
"We've watched Celtic and it wasn't to go see Hinkel. Whenever you go see a game of football, you're always looking at every position and he did well."
Sam Ricketts left the KC Stadium this summer to join Bolton Wanderers and Hinkel could act as a replacement.
"People know we're in the market for a right-back," added Brown.
"It's not for the want of trying before Sam Ricketts went, but some of these things don't fall into place until the other side's ready.
"We sold Sam because it was good business. There might be one or two out there who'll be disappointed, but the bottom line is I'm looking for better."
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