CELTIC fans should not expect their club to make the French market their main shopping venue, even though new boss Tony Mowbray has just recruited Marc-Antoine Fortune and is the process of adding Nancy team-mate Landry N'Guemo.

Former Parkhead star John Collins, who can also list AS Monaco among his impressive CV of clubs served, keeps a close eye on football on the other side of the Channel.

And he believes Celtic have done well to land this pair for an outlay of under £4million - albeit N'Guemo will initially join on a season-long loan - because the transfer market in France is still very buoyant.

Rangers have long-since shopped there, with several players making a decent impact including Jean-Alain Boumsong and Lionel Charbonnier, who both came from Auxerre, Dado Prso, who was brought over from Monaco, and Jean-Claude Darcheville who arrived from Bordeaux.

Celtic, by contrast, have not dipped their toes in that particular market nearly as often. Jo Doumbe was the last player signed directly from France, coming in on a free from Rennes.

Before him, Bobo Balde was signed from Toulouse in 2001. The centre-back, spotted by Martin O'Neill, arrived on a free after his club went bust, otherwise he would have cost the Parkhead club £1m.

But Collins reckons bargains are now thin on the ground in France and does not envisage it suddenly becoming Celtic's happy hunting ground for talent.

He said: "It is not a cheap market any more. The French clubs have got big TV deals. So, generally, they can pay higher wages than Celtic and Rangers. They can also afford bigger transfer fees.

"Lyon have just broken their own transfer record (buying Lisandro Lopez from Porto for 24million Euros).

"Marseille have always been big spenders, and other clubs also have decent money available. Nancy were fighting relegation for most of last season, but even they don't have to sell any players on the cheap.

"So, it is certainly not a place for bargains. Far from it. If any SPL clubs do want to get players from France, they will have to identify them early, before they really break through and make a name for themselves."

Collins reckons Mowbray - who he succeeded as manager at Hibs in 2006 - is well aware of what is available in his price range.

The new Celtic boss has an extensive knowledge of European football, and used this to good effect when he plucked Fortune on a loan deal last season while manager of West Brom.

That's when N'Guemo would also have been added to his wish list, and Collins explained: "I am sure Tony knows the French market well. And obviously he knows what he is getting with Fortune after signing him on loan earlier this year and then playing him in the English Premier League.

"While he was watching him, he would have noticed N'Guemo, though I have to say I don't really know too much about him as Nancy were involved in a fight against relegation for most of last season and I didn't see too many of their games.

"I was working for TV when Nancy played Motherwell at the start of the season, though, and I do remember that Fortune played in those games. If N'Guemo signs, I hope the pair of them settle and do well for Celtic."

Collins is currently taking time out on holiday with his family in France after deciding not to continue managing Belgian First Division club, Charleroi.

He has been linked with a possible return to coaching or management in France, but insisted: "I'm enjoying the break and have no plans at present to look for a return to the game."