Neil Lennon is looking to bring in at least two new signings before the transfer window closes.
Hopes of signing Alessandro del Piero have cooled but a move for the Italian legend hasn’t been completely ruled out.
“We spoke to his advisers but I don’t think there is any more mileage in it,” Lennon said. “It would have been nice. I know he’s a lot older than our group of players, but he’s got another year in him at least.
“There’s always a last minute rush. We need to get a couple of players in.”
Nigerian defender Efe Ambrose has emerged as the most likely defensive target with Auxerre playing a dangerous game of poker that could see an unhappy Willy Boly remain at the club once the window closes.
Lennon has gone on record stating that a central defender is his transfer priority. In January Jaroslaw Fojut agreed a pre-contract deal but that was cancelled after the defender suffered cruciate ligament damage.
Twenty-three-year-old Ambrose is a regular in the Nigerian national side and has been playing for FC Ashdod in the Israel league for the last two seasons and is valued in the £1.5m region.
A work permit would be required as he is a non-EEC citizen but with 14 caps and Nigeria in the top 75 FIFA nations that should be a formality.
Lennon would probably prefer to bring in a more experienced defender to compete with Charlie Mulgrew, Kelvin Wilson and Thomas Rogne but has been impressed by Ambrose having signed Beram Kayal from Israeli football two years ago.
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I don’t think we need Del Piero, and the other ‘oldies’ we’ve bought haven’t worked out too well. I’d be happy, if we got a good, calm center-half, and ecstatic, if we got a good, big center-forward as well.
Although I’m very happy with the progress made by Neil and our players a couple of new faces would be a welcome addition to the team.
Centre forward ala Hartson/Sutton and a central defender.