McCarthy vows to keep Arca

Julio Arca is a favourite with Sunderland fans at left-back

Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy says he is not interested in selling Julio Arca to Celtic.

BBC Sport understands Celtic boss Martin O'Neill is preparing a bid for the 22-year-old Sunderland left-back.

But McCarthy said: "I have had no call from Martin - I know him well enough to expect a call if anything was happening.

"But if he did call I would quickly tell him I'm not interested in selling."

The English First Division club are interested in Celtic's Scotland Under-21 defender Stephen Crainey and a swap deal is thought possible.

Michael Gray is poised to return to the Stadium of Light from the Scottish Premier League leaders.

It appears that Celtic have no interest in extending Gray's loan period.

O'Neill appears to have turned his attention to the player who took the England international's place in the Sunderland first-team.

Gray has failed to provide a solution in the troublesome left-side of defence at Celtic Park and has started only four matches since arriving in Glasgow in September.

Left-sided Crainey does not appear to be in O'Neill's future plans either, making only six appearances this season.

Arca joined Sunderland from Argentina's Juniors for £3.5m in 2000.

Initially played as a winger, he became a fans favourite and a regular in the first-team at full-back.

He was called up this month to the Under-23 squad for his country's Olympic qualifying campaign.

However, McCarthy was able to veto the Argentine Football Association's request as the tournament is not backed by world governing body Fifa.

Arca would have missed three league games had Argentina reached the final.

He has not played for his country since captaining Argentina's Under-20 side to victory in the World Youth Championships in the summer of 2001.