Celtic are closing in on a deal to sign Efe Ambrose from Israeli side FC Ashdod.
The £1.5m rated Nigerian centre half has been watched a number of times since the turn of the year with the success of Beram Kayal providing Celtic with a strong profile in Israel.
A number of defensive options have been considered with Willy Boly of Auxerre strongly linked with a move earlier this week.
However once clubs or agents go public to talk up moves to Celtic it usually brings negotiations to a swift halt.
It’s believed that Celtic have already applied to the Department of Work and Pensions for a work permit with Ambrose expected to be included in the squad to visit St Johnstone on September 15 before the Champions League opener against Benfica four days later.
Ambrose has been virtually an ever present with FC Ashdod over the last two seasons while breaking into the full Nigerian international side having previously been capped at all levels and taking part in the 2008 Olympic Games.
The 23-year-old has been linked with a move to clubs in Holland and Belgium, he also had a trial with Manchester City in January, but the lure of playing for Celtic in the Champions League has added to the attraction of a move to Scotland.
If Celtic can pull off the signing before the close of the transfer window it will end an eight month search for a new central defender.
A pre-contract agreement with Polish international Jasoslaw Fojut  was agreed in January but that deal was cancelled when the player damaged his cruciate ligaments two months later.
The summer departures of Glenn Loovens, Daniel Majstorovic and Darren O’Dea reduced Lennon’s defensive options with the hoops boss keen to have four players challenging for the two places.
Kelvin Wilson has been the subject of interest from Leicester City but his recent form has convinced Lennon to hold on to the former Notts Forest defender.
With the Ambrose deal almost completed it’s believed that Lennon’s other priority is to bring in a striker on loan to provide back up to Gary Hooper, Georgios Samaras and Tony Watt with Anthony Stokes expected to be out of action until the end of October.
If he comes, let’s hope he quickly becomes another one of our success stories.
A few seasons ago we wouldn’t have high expectations of incoming, unknown players, now we are almost expectant they will succeed! Lennon and the scouts have set themselves a very high benchmark. Very impressive transfer dealings, a couple of the signings haven’t worked out, but on a whole they have been fantastic pieces of business.
Better to bring in players we have researched than last minute offers from agents trying to get interest in players. I’d like to think we had a couple of deals in readiness rather than join the stampede of chasing players/agents for late late deals.
Identify who we want and get them or move on..don’t get into auctions.
Seems to fit the profile…. 23yr old that is rising in the national ranks and is being noticed not only by ouraelves but trialing with Man City can’t look to bad on yr CV….
Gotta love dedline day!
Lets face it! We are not going to get superstars. If he cant strenthen the squad, then leave it and keep the money, its all overinflated prices today (agents pay day) keep bringing in young potential until we can attract a higher standard. HH