Celtic manager Gordon Strachan could turn his attentions elsewhere after failing with a bid for Burnley's teenage striker Kyle Lafferty.

Lafferty stands 6ft 4in and is already a Northern Ireland international at the age of 19.

Celtic were keen to bring him to Parkhead, however their offer - reported to be £500,000 - fell well short of Burnley's asking valuation.

With Burnley rating Lafferty in the £6million bracket, Celtic may not return with a second offer unless they can be convinced there is room for negotiation with the Coca-Cola Championship club.

Clarets manager Steve Cotterill stated: "Even if we were to sell Kyle, the offer Celtic made wouldn't even be close to our starting valuation for a player of Kyle's undoubted potential."

Cotterill told the Daily Express: "Look at David Nugent at Preston. They value him at around £6million. Kyle is two years younger and is a full international, so you would have to put the same value on him - if not more."

Strachan was foiled earlier this month in another move for a striker when he failed to lure Anthony Stokes to Parkhead.

The youngster had impressed during a loan spell at Falkirk, but preferred to join Sunderland from Arsenal.

The Bhoys have other options, though, and Strachan has already declared his interest in taking Geoff Horsfield to Glasgow from Sheffield United.

United boss Neil Warnock told the Sheffield Star: "We will not be giving away Geoff for nothing, definitely not."

But after hearing of Celtic's approach for Lafferty, Warnock's initial impression was that Horsfield would not be moving north of the border.

"I don't know what has changed their minds but if they've gone for the lad from Burnley then I can't see them going for Geoff as well," said Warnock.

"I'm not totally sure but that's the way I read the situation."

That may not be the case now, given Burnley's firm stance on Lafferty.

If Celtic do have an offer for Lafferty accepted, Irish Football Association president Jim Boyce hopes the striker will not be dissuaded from moving to Parkhead for fear of incurring the wrath of some Northern Ireland fans.

In the past, players from the province such as Anton Rogan and Neil Lennon encountered problems with a section of the national side's support at Windsor Park after joining the Hoops.

Indeed, Lennon, a Catholic like Rogan, quit international football in 2002 after receiving death threats before a friendly game against Cyprus in Belfast.

And while Lafferty comes from the other side of the divide in Ulster, a move to Celtic could turn some of the overwhelmingly Protestant Northern Ireland support against the player.

But Boyce is hoping the supporters will not change their attitude to Lafferty if he joins the Glasgow club.

He said: "I hold Kyle in the highest regard and he has a great future in the game.

"He has made a great contribution in the short time he has been in the Northern Ireland team.

"Whatever decision Kyle makes regarding his future I would hope everyone in Northern Ireland respects it.

"And I look forward to him playing many more times for Nothern Ireland.2

Lafferty, who has seven caps, revealed that on purely sporting terms, he would have no problem moving to the Bank of Scotland Premier League.

He said: "The Scottish league is a good standard and Celtic are a great club.

"I knew they were watching me about a month ago but I didn't think they would make a bid.

"It would be a great achievement for me to play in the Champions League with them."