STARFELT ON THE WAY

CELTIC have overcome the contract snags that have called their £4million-plus move for Swedish centre-back Carl Starfelt.

New boss Ange Postecoglou is stepping up his Hoops rebuild and is also on the brink of signing £3.5million-rated Israeli winger Liel Abada, as CQN reported earlier today.

Now he has switched his attention to Rubin Kazan defender Starfelt and Swedish media outlet Expressen.se claim a fee has been agreed and only a medical stands between the international and a four-year deal at Parkhead.

They quote the fee as 50million Swedish Krona for the fee, which works out at over £4million. His former club IFK Gothenburg are set to receive a sell-on fee of around £400,000. That had been a problem for the Russians, but the Hoops appear to have worked their way around it.

Postecoglou urgently requires recruitments in the central defensive area with Kristoffer Ajer likely to leave this summer if a suitable bid of arund £15million is received. Christophier Jullien, who had not played this year after his knee injury against Dundee United in December, is likely to be out until October, at least.

Rennes’ £4million right-back Brandon Soppy is also target for Neil Lennon’s successor while he is still seeking options for the striker role with Odsonne Edouard another who could quit in this transfer window.