Celtic set to sign Turnbull
CELTIC are set to seal the signing of David Turnbull after agreeing a fee with Motherwell for the midfielder. Neil Lennon has long been an admirer of the Scotland under-21 internationalist and almost took him to Celtic Park last summer, only for a knee problem that was discovered in his medical to scupper a £3.25m move.
A year on, and with Turnbull now fully recovered and nearing his best form once again, Herald and Times Sport understands that the clubs have agreed a new fee of around £2.7m with add-ons to finally make the 21-year-old a Celtic player at the second time of asking.
Turnbull had been scouted twice already this season by Celtic and has started all five of Motherwell’s league games so far, scoring once in the draw against Livingston at Fir Park.
Despite the poor run of form that his team have endured at the start of the campaign, Turnbull has been a standout performer, and impressed Celtic’s head of recruitment Nicky Hammond and coach Gavin Strachan when they watched him in action.
His eye-catching form has also piqued interest from England, with Newcastle United among a host of clubs south of the border keeping a watch on his progress.
That has prompted Celtic to make their move now, and they look to have beaten Turnbull’s other suitors to the punch, with the player himself believed to favour a move to the Scottish champions.
Personal terms were agreed on a four-year contract last year before the collapse of the move on medical grounds, and it is believed that there won’t be any issues in agreeing a new deal this time around.
Turnbull is likely to be a direct replacement in the Celtic squad for Tom Rogic as the Australian looks likely to leave the club, with a move to Qatar still a possibility for the 27-year-old. close