Aberdeen have told Celtic they will have to improve their offer if they want to sign Jonny Hayes.
The Hoops thought they were in the driving seat in the race to bring the Dons midfielder to Glasgow after making a player-plus-cash offer for Hayes last week which would have included Ryan Christie returning to Pittodrie on a season loan.
But Cardiff City’s £1.2million offer for Hayes is better than the deal the treble winners have bid for former Caley Jags midfielder Hayes and the Dons have told the Hoops they need to revise their offer if they want the player.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is frustrated a deal for Hayes has not yet been concluded and his mood is about to get worse with English Championship pair Nottingham Forest and Birmingham City also both poised to make bids for Hayes.
Former Rangers manager Mark Warburton has told Forest he wants Hayes, who he was also keen to take to Ibrox in January.
Blues manager Harry Redknapp is of a similar view after leaving Hampden impressed following his trip to watch Hayes in action in the Scottish Cup final.
Hayes, who is on international duty with the Republic of Ireland, is flattered by the interest in him but is no rush to sort out his future.
He said: “We’ve obviously known about it (Celtic’s interest) for a while now. There have been a few things developing with the club.
“But I just wanted to finish the season with Aberdeen and sign a new deal there in January. I was just concentrating on that.
“Whatever happens over the summer will happen.”
Hayes’ departure seems inevitable but the midfielder is content to let potential suitors deal with the Dons first.
He said: “I am still an Aberdeen player. I enjoy it there but we’ll wait and see what happens. If someone else is taking an interest, it means you are doing something right.”