Who is Efe Ambrose (video)

Celtic have been strongly linked with a move for  Efe Ambrose to solve their defensive problems.

Neil Lennon identified a central defender as a priority when he signed Jaroslaw Fojut in January but the Bosman deal was cancelled due to injury.

The departures of Glenn Loovens, Darren O’Dea and Daniel Majstorovic have left Celtic short on numbers but it’s quality that Lennon is looking for.

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 help Charlie Mulgrew and Thomas Rogne but has found it difficult to attract those type of players on the Celtic budget.

Ambrose does fit the profile of potential signings being under 25 and an internationalist playing outwith the major leagues. Celtic have recently been looking more and more towards African signings with Victor Wanyama perfectly fitting the signing profile.

Since clinching the title at Kilmarnock in April Lennon has tinkered with his formation by switching to a back three from the traditional four at the back.

Adam Matthews and Emilio Izaguirre seem ideally suited to play as wing-backs but unless he can find the right partnership in central defence the hoops boss is likely to go with a back four for the start of the new season.

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