CELTIC are ready to snap up English striker Josh Maja from Sunderland in a transfer move similar to that of Moussa Dembele from Fulham in June 2016.
The Hoops are showing an interest in the 20-year-old London-born attacker who can leave the Wearside outfit for nothing at the end of the season.
Maja, who has claimed 15 goals in 29 games this season, has already knocked back the offer of an extension from Black Cats boss Jack Ross and has attracted interest from the Premier League and Germany.
But cross-border rules mean the Hoops would have to pay minimal compensation if they signed him on a pre-contract agreement – as was the case when they swooped for Dembele, landing the French powerhouse for a development fee of around £500,000 before selling him to Lyon two years later for £19.8million.
The League One outfit could be tempted with Ross an admirer of his former St Mirren winger Lewis Morgan who is set to leave Parkhead in a loan deal during this transfer window.
Central defender Jack Hendry, last year’s £1.3million signing from Dundee, has also been linked with a temporary switch to Sunderland although the ex-Saints gaffer insists he has not spoken to Rodgers this month.
