Big John backs Brown to stay on at Celts

don’t buy it. I think you need players at the club like Brown who are leaders and who know what it is all about.”

Celtic remain in the hunt for new additions in January with an offer already tabled for Dunajska Streda striker Vakoun Issouf Bayo while Timothy Weah is expected to formalise a six-month loan deal to Celtic this week.

Bayo, below, has been described by his national manager Ibrahim Kamara as a “killer striker”.

He said: “We have been following Vakoun closely in Slovakia and he fully deserves to be part of our squad.

“He was first called into the squad three years ago when he was playing in Tunisia and has also been a part of the Under 23s team.

“He’s quick, direct, has an eye for goal and has the physique to be a top player. He’s very powerful when he gets into his stride.

“I call him a killer in front of goal. Perhaps people here won’t know him so well because they don’t know about the Slovakian league. But he has a very good record there and has got huge potential.

“He is also an aerial threat and if he keeps progressing can become a very good player for us.”

Meanwhile, Emilio Izaguirre is reported to be attracting the attention of Turkish side Goztepe. The left-back made a surprise return to Celtic this summer in order to deputise for Kieran Tierney. The 32-year-old signed at the club until the end of the season.

Elsewhere, Celtic’s head of recruitment Lee Congerton has been linked with a switch to Anderlecht while forgotten Celt Scott Allan is wanted by Hibs for a return to Easter Road.