Fulham target Petrov not for sale

Stilian Petrov has ambitions to play in the Premiership

Celtic say Stilian Petrov is not for sale - despite manager Gordon Strachan admitting that he cannot afford transfer fees for new players.

Fulham are reportedly preparing to up their offer for the player, having had a £4m bid rejected by Celtic this week.

But Strachan told BBC Sport that the Bulgarian midfielder would not be allowed to leave Glasgow at this time.

Strachan hopes to add to his squad but said he was concentrating on loan deals or players out of contract.

Strachan revealed that Petrov has been kept fully informed of the interest, but claimed he was going nowhere because he wants to build his future Celtic team around him.

"Out of courtesy we told him that there was interest and a bid from Fulham," said Strachan, who is set to hand Petrov the captaincy on Sunday against Dunfermline in the absence of suspended Neil Lennon.

If somebody comes in with a bid of £50m then I'll say 'thanks Stan' Celtic manager Gordon Strachan

"Stan listened to what I had to say, but he is a big player for us and he is going to be even bigger, so there's no way I'll let him go.

"He sat there, listened, didn't say a word, didn't say a work, which is good, and then thanked me and walked out.

"There has been a bid, but he is not going anywhere.

"I want to build a team around Stilian Petrov and people like him.

"He's buzzing now and he was absolutely fantastic last week against Rangers. He's not for sale as long as I'm here.

"I know we've all said that as managers and if somebody comes in with a bid of £50m then I'll say 'thanks Stan' but that's life."

Fulham had hoped that Petrov's previously voiced desire to play in the English Premiership would help persuade the Bulgaria captain to move to London.

The 26-year-old, signed from CSKA Sofia, has spent six years in Glasgow and the Bulgaria captain is now Celtic's longest-serving player.

It is believed that several Premiership clubs have been watching Petrov closely but that Fulham appear to be most interested.

Petrov has proved most effective as an attacking midfielder bursting forward from behind the strikers.

But he has this season found himself being used on the right by Strachan following the purchase of Japan international Shunsuke Nakamura.

Previous manager Martin O'Neill also used Petrov on the right at times in the Northern Irishman's latter days in charge with Celtic.