CELTIC REJOIN RACE TO SIGN DAVIES

CELTIC are back in the hunt for unsettled Liverpool central defender Ben Davies.

The Parkhead club were close to securing a £2million deal with the former Preston North End star in January before being gazumped by a shock late move by Jurgen Klopp.

However, the 25-year-old Englishman has yet to witness any action in the Anfield first team and, with star defender Virgil van Dijk on his way back from injury, Davies will slip further down the pecking order for a starting place in the new season. While Liverpool would rather sell for a hefty profit, Celtic are now in competition with a posse of English

clubs — including Bournemouth — to tie up a season-long loan deal. Desperate to get players in before a Champions League qualifier against Midtjylland on July 20, new boss Ange Postecoglou has identified central defence, right-back and wingers as priority positions. Rubin Kazan defender Carl Starfelt, Tottenham’s Cameron Carter-Vickers and free agent wide man Kyle Edwards, formerly of West Brom, have already been linked with Celtic. But a £3m bid for Aaron Hickey has been rejected by Bologna, according to reports in Italy, and interest in Hajduk Split defender Mario Vuskovic appears to have cooled. Kris Ajer is expected to leave, with Norwich and Bayer Leverkusen vying for the Norwegian’s signature. Davies (pictured), who is a left-sided, left-footed centre-back, may yet offer Klopp an option as cover in the Liverpool back line should former Celtic star Van Dijk’s return to action be delayed.