Parkhead club close in on targets

CELTIC are set to announce the signing of Alexandro Bernabei as Ange Postecoglou steps up efforts to strengthen his squad for their tilt at the Champions League group stage.

Argentina Under-19 international left-back Bernabei arrived in Glasgow yesterday to put the finishing touches to a five-year deal after Celtic agreed a fee of £3.75m with Lanus for his transfer this week.

It is understood the 21-year-old is likely to be announced officially as a Celtic player today, while the longawaited conclusion to the Jota transfer saga is also within sight.

The Portuguese winger will finally put pen to paper on a permanent deal with the Scottish champions in the coming days after a successful loan spell last season, where he hit 10 goals and provided 10 assists as Postecoglou’s men charged to the league title.

A fee of £6.4m was agreed with Benfica to secure his services as part of the loan agreement, and although the move was placed on hold as the 23-year-old enjoyed his summer break, he will arrive back in Glasgow to complete the transfer before preseason training starts on Monday.

Meanwhile, it is understood that Celtic have not made contact with Liverpool with a view to rekindling their interest in defender Ben Davies.

Davies almost joined Celtic in January last year from Preston, before an injury crisis at Anfield prompted a late bid that the boyhood Liverpool fan felt he could not refuse.

He has failed to play a single minute for Jurgen Klopp’s first team though, spending last season on loan at Sheffield United, and reports in England yesterday suggested that Celtic were interested once more in bringing him north of the border.