CELTIC are pushing ahead in their pursuit of central defender Danny Wilson.
Hoops boss Ronny Deila is aware there is interest elsewhere in the Scottish international who quit Championship-winning Hearts at the end of the season.
The 23-year-old five-times capped former Rangers player is exploring his options, but the Norwegian wants to seal a deal as swiftly as possible as he gears up for the Champions League qualifiers.
It doesn’t look as though Jason Denayer will be allowed another loan at Celtic and there is continued speculation about Virgil van Dijk.
Deila could be left with a major headache if both players are missing when the qualifying games for Europe’s top flight come around.
Wilson has been on his radar for most of this campaign and Deila is an admitted admirer of the player. The quicker a deal is agreed, the better for both parties.
Deila has already revealed he is in talks with Manchester City’s Dedryck Boyata, who is poised to leave the Etihad outfit after growing frustrated at the lack of first team opportunities.
The 24-year-old Belgian has one season left to run on his current contract. The Parkhead gaffer said: “We are talking with a lot of players now and trying to strengthen our squad.”
Wilson cost Liverpool £2million when they signed him from the Ibrox side in 2010 on the recommendation of Kenny Dalglish.
He made only made nine appearances for the Anfield giants and had spells on loan at Blackpool and Bristol City before agreeing a temporary deal with the Tynecastle outfit in January 2013.
The move became permanent when he signed a three-year contract in the summer of that year when his Liverpool deal expired. He triggered a get-out clause to leave the Edinburgh club and played his last game in the 2-2 draw against his former Ibrox side at the start of this month during Hearts’ title-winning celebrations.
Deila paired Charlie Mulgrew with Efe Ambrose in central defence during the second-half of Friday’s goalless draw with St Johnstone in Perth and was far from impressed.
He said: “Defensively, we were everywhere. It was too open for my taste.”
The search for new defenders will intensify throughout the month with Wilson believed to be on the verge of agreeing a three-year contract.
