HOOPS MOVE CLOSER TO ARZANI TRANSFER

CELTIC last night moved closer to sealing a deal for Australian winger Daniel Arzani after the 19-year-old checked into the UK.

The teenager is expected to complete a switch from Melbourne City to parent club Manchester City before then embarking on a long-term loan deal with Brendan Rodgers’ side.

Arzani is expected to complete the paperwork over the weekend and could be paraded at Celtic at some point in the coming

week. The winger was the youngest player at this summer’s World Cup when he played alongside Celtic’s Tom Rogic in the group stage of the competition before the Socceroos were eliminated.

And Parkhead manager Brendan Rodgers believes there will be further new arrivals before the closure of the transfer window at the end of the month.

“Essentially I am working with the players we have,” said Rodgers. “They are outstanding talents and they have been great for me over the last couple of years but there is no doubt we need to strengthen and that is something the club are very much aware of.

“It is important for the supporters but it is also very important for the players. They need that help with so many games in the season.”

Celtic have been in contact with Hibs over the last month with regards to John McGinn, with the Easter Road side rejecting three bids from the Parkhead side.

Brighton were yesterday speculated to have been in talks with Hibs about the availability of the player although with the Premier League side well covered in the central areas it would seem unlikely that a move would come for the Scotland internationalist.

“It is something between the clubs,” said Rodgers. “It is something that they will hopefully look to conclude but at this minute John is a Hibs player and doing very well for them.”

Celtic, meanwhile, announced a continuation of their shirt sponsorship deal with Dafabet yesterday. The club have signed a fiveyear extension with the online betting company which will see their deal continue until 2025.

It is the biggest shirt deal in the history of Scottish football and Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell said: “We are delighted to secure such a lucrative, long-term arrangement with Dafabet, a fantastic partner with whom we have already enjoyed such a great relationship.”