Hayes close to £1.3m move to Parkhead

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers yesterday closed in on one of his expected four summer targets as a £1.3 million fee was agreed with Aberdeen for Irish winger Jonny Hayes.

Subject to a medical that the 29-year-old will undergo on his return from holiday, Hayes will become the treble-winners’ first signing of the window. The deal will see Celtic midfielder Ryan Christie spend next season on loan with the Pittodrie club, where he was farmed out for the second half of the last campaign.

It is understood that the capture of Hayes will have no impact on Celtic’s desire to recruit Patrick Roberts on a permanent basis. The 20-year-old Englishman will return to Manchester City for the start of pre-season following an 18-month loan spell in Glasgow. If, as expected, Pep Guardiola does not see Roberts as a potential first-team squad member, Celtic’s willingness to pay a fee in the region of £5m could persuade City to permanently part with a player for whom they made an initial £8m payment to Fulham in 2015.

Hayes is instead viewed by Rodgers as upgrading his squad choices with the soon-to-be former Aberdeen player effectively expected to take the place of Gary Mackay-steven, believed to be close to a switch to Sheffield United.