CELTIC could see their proposed deal for Wigan striker Kyle Joseph hi-jacked by Newcastle.
The Hoops have targeted the Scotland Under-19 frontman since the turn of the year and held talks with his representatives in February.
It looked as though the teenager was heading for Parkhead and the nine-in-a-row champions were confident of getting the transfer over the line at the end of the season.
The League One strugglers had been anticipating a compensation cross-border transfer fee of £230,000 from Celtic for Joseph who is out of contract in the summer.
However, the St James’s Park outfit are willing to pay around £850,000 for the strong-running, direct hitman, according to a report in the Daily Mail.
Joseph scored five goals in 16 games this season before suffering a back injury that has ruled him out of his club’s battle to remain in the third-tier.
Celtic have had him watched since the beginning of the campaign and have been impressed with his all-round play.
The Hoops hoped to bring him to Glasgow at the same time as Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Liam Shaw, as CQN reported earlier today.
