Bologna club president Alfredo Cazzola was reported to have launched a bid for Nakamura, however Celtic tonight stressed they have not received an offer and would not encourage any interest from the Serie A outfit.

A spokesman for the SPL champions told www.celticfc.net: "We've never heard of the representative who has claimed Bologna has made an offer for Shunsuke Nakamura.

He added: "We have not received any offer from Bologna or from any other club.

"In any case Naka is delighted to be staying with Celtic and that is what he will be doing."

Even if Nakamura had been the subject of a firm offer, he would not necessarily have found the prospect of a return to Italy appealing.

Since leaving Reggina to join Celtic in 2005, the 30-year-old has played the best football of his career and helped the Hoops win a hat-trick of league titles. In 2007 he was rewarded for an outstanding campaign with a clean sweep of the major player of the season awards.

With Champions League assured at Celtic for next season, it would be a major gamble for Nakamura to give that up to join a side freshly promoted to the Italian top flight.

Nakamura has also been linked with a return to Japanese football, with a transfer to his former J.League side Yokohama F Marinos a more likely option than a move to another European club at the end of his Celtic career.