CELTIC STEP UP TEEN STRIKER MOVE

CELTIC target Kyle Joseph will be out of contract at the end of next month.

The 19-year-old Wigan striker was on the Hoops’ radar for most of last season where he also attracted the attention of Arsenal, Spurs and Newcastle, despite missing 18 successive league games through injury.

The Scotland Under-19 frontman would cost the Parkhead side £300,000 in a compensation fee, as CQN reported back in March. It would be a similar move to the one which brough Moussa Dembele to Glasgow from Fulham in the summer of 2016 as one of Brendan Rodgers’ first signings.

The Parkhead outfit snapped up Sheffield Wednesday’s versatile teenage midfielder/central defender Liam Shaw in a four-year pre-contract deal in January and he will report to Lennoxtown next month.

Joseph, who was born in London, netted six goals in 12 starts for Wigan who escaped relegation from League One by a point with the teenager getting game time in the countdown to the campaign.

With time ticking on his contract, Celtic will firm up their bid as they prepare for a summer of upheaval.