HOOPS LINKED WITH £5m TIM

CELTIC are being linked with a £5million move for Belgian international right-back Timothy Castagne.

The 23-year-old defender is under contract with Serie A outfit Atalanta until the summer of 2020, but he has emerged on Brendan Rodgers’ January wish list.

Mikael Lustig, 32, is a free agent at the end of the season unless he agrees an extension or the Hoops exercise a 12-month option on his current deal. Swedish giants AIK Stockholm are monitoring his situation.

Anthony Ralston has emerged in recent weeks with outstanding displays in the 3-0 wins over Motherwell and Dundee after being out of the picture for more than a year,

However, Rodgers is looking to the future and the £5million valuation of the attack-minded Castagne will not put off the champions.

The stopper has three full caps for Belgium and made his international debut in his nation’s 4-0 success over Scotland at Hampden in September.

Castagne, who signed from Genk 18 months ago, has become frustrated by a lack of regular first team action as he attempts to keep his place in Roberto Martinez’s plans where he has teamed up alongside Dedryck Boyata.

The player feels isolated with the Italian side and, speaking of Atalanta Head Coach Gian Piero Gasperini, he said: “I speak more with Martinez in one day than in a year-and-a-half with Gasperini.

“I need playing time to stay and everything can go very fast in football.”

Rodgers has also been linked with a loan bid for Paris Saint-Germain’s 18-year-old attacker Timothy Weah, son of Liberian legend George, and has already admitted he is on the look-out for two new strikers with Leigh Griffiths taking time off for personal reasons.

Following yesterday’s exciting 4-3 victory over Aberdeen at Pittodrie, the Irishman admitted: “Of course, we want to bring in some players in January and he is a very talented kid, but there is nothing to add.”