HENRIK Larsson sought to quell speculation surrounding his life after Celtic yesterday, insisting no deal had been struck with any southern European suitors, and stressing that the level at which he will continue his career is dependant on the quality of the teams who express a firm interest.

The Swede reiterated his preference for a Spanish sojourn when the curtain comes down on seven years' sterling service at Celtic. Despite advances made by Barcelona and Real Mallorca, though, the 32-year-old was phlegmatic when pressed on the possibilities in La Liga and beyond.

He does not envisage joining a side in the lower reaches of Spanish League and, while he would relish the prospect of another Champions League fling, admits he has no control over who comes calling. Approaches from the likes of Real Mallorca, Deportivo la Coruna, Valencia or Atletico Madrid would probably prove irresistible.

''I have been everywhere in the last few months,'' he said with only the merest hint of a smile. ''The truth is I haven't spoken to anybody, which is why I get annoyed when radio stations say I am 48 hours from joining Newcastle United.

''As I said from the start, my wish is to go to Spain, to somewhere warm. That would be lovely. I would not like to go and fight relegation but I have had no meetings in London or Barcelona or anywhere.

''There are plenty of clubs out there who could challenge for the title and Europe, but I am realistic to know for a fact that Real Madrid and Barcelona would never come for me. For now I just want to concentrate on Celtic.''

Larsson stands to earn in the region of (pounds) 4m from his final season at Celtic, whom who joined for (pounds) 600,000 from Feyenoord seven years ago.

His reported (pounds) 40,000 wages will be boosted by a loyalty bonus for honouring his contract, and negotiations began at the weekend to organise a fitting farewell exhibition match which is also likely to raise in excess of (pounds) 1m. Various dates and opponents are under consideration, but, as the manager, Martin O'Neill, agreed yesterday, Celtic could sell out the stadium 10 times over if Pollok Juniors provided the opposition.

Unconcerned by the interest generated in Larsson's next move, O'Neill believes the single-minded striker will not allow off-field concerns to affect his on-field performances.

''It is not a problem to me at all and I think we should try to enjoy his company for the next couple of months,'' he said. ''I do not think he will have a problem finding a new club. Indeed, there will be a number of them coming in for him towards the end of the season. He was going to move at some stage and the club have to live without him.''

Replacing the seemingly irreplaceable is perhaps O'Neill's hardest task to date, a situation made even more difficult by the lack of funds likely to be available. The manager bristled at Neil Lennon's suggestion in The Herald yesterday that the board's prudent policy might force him to leave, but the fact remains that the old guard will have to be replaced with a fraction of the budget.

''We will look at the situation between now and the end of the season,'' said O'Neill. ''To replace Henrik Larsson is going to be (i) very difficult, and (ii) potentially very expensive.''

O'Neill maintains that Larsson can continue his free-

scoring ways until his mid-30s and hinted at a change in attitude towards the forthcoming European Championships.

Although the striker retired from international football after the 2002 World Cup, a petition seeking to persuade him to take part in Portugal has attracted 150,000 signatories in Sweden. The president of UEFA, Lennart Johansson, has written a personal plea, while the national coach, Lars Lagerback, will make one last effort to convince him to lead the team out in the summer.

''I would not be surprised if Sweden ask him back for one last hurrah, and I'm sure it is something he might well consider,'' said O'Neill.

Larsson, though, was non-committal. ''It's flattering,'' he said of the petition. ''I still speak with the manager and have a good relationship with him but there is nothing new because I haven't been asked. I haven't changed anything and I am still of the same opinion as I was when I left Sweden.''

He expressed sadness at the circumstances in which he will leave Scottish football, with one-quarter of the SPL in administration.

''I could say it is a good time to be going but it's a little bit sad they have let it go as far as it has,'' he said. ''If I knew all the circumstances it would make me think twice [about signing for Celtic].''

Larsson's strike partner, John Hartson, is an injury doubt for tomorrow's return to Tynecastle to face Hearts on Tennent's Scottish Cup duty.

The Welshman's altercation with Andy Webster, perceived as an elbow off the ball until television evidence proved otherwise, set the tone for a hostile encounter last month, with the views of Craig Levein and O'Neill polarised even after viewing the same recording of the incident. Both teams are keen to defuse another potentially explosive encounter, but the Celtic manager insists only a back injury would prevent Hartson from featuring.

''He has a sore back but not the same problem as last season,'' said O'Neill. ''It is just a spasm but that would be the only way he would miss out.''