NEW DEFENDER: ‘I’M REALLY IMPRESSED,’ LENNY

NEIL LENNON has confirmed Celtic’s £1.6million deal for defender Hatem Abd Elhamed is just about complete.

The Hoops boss expects the transfer to be done and dusted after the 28-year-old Israeli international undergoes a medical while work permit and visa applications are about to be rubber-stamped.

Lennon, speaking to BBC Sport, said: “We think he’s a good player. Strong defensively, very quick and I think he’d be a very good addition.

“In his last three seasons, he’s played very well at a very good level. I’m really impressed with what I’ve seen of him.”

Abd Elhamed joined Hapoel Be’er Sheva in 2017 from domestic rivals Ashdod, Efe Ambrose’s former club, and played 27 times last season as they finished third in the Israeli top flight.

He has also had spells in Belgium with Charleroi and Gent, and in Romania with Dinamo Bucharest.

Lennon is delighted with the deal as he has searched since the end of the season for a replacement for Mikael Lustig while Cristian Gamboa quit the Hoops when his contract expired and Jeremy Toljan returned to Borussia Dortmund on the completion of his temporary transfer.

The Irishman also confirmed the club had cancelled a trial for 32-year-old former Leicester City full-back Danny Simpson in the light of Abd Elhamed’s signing.