Celtic have been linked with a bizarre buy and loan back move for Josh Maja.
The Sunderland striker is out of contract at the end of this season and has knocked back offers to sign a new deal with the League One promotion chasers.
According to a report in The Sun Sunderland are looking for a deal to sell Maja to Celtic as long as he is loaned back to the Stadium of Light for the remainder of the season.
Celtic can sign Maja in the summer for a token development fee with the hoops using that avenue in the past to secure Adam Matthews, Moussa Dembele and Kundai Benyu.
With 16 goals to his name this season the London born striker has been a key player as Jack Ross attempts to ensure a quick-fire return to The Championship.
Maja is in the final year of the three year contract that he signed as a 17-year-old and appeared close to agreeing a new contract over Christmas. The player’s agent then intervened with Sunderland now scrambling for the best deal possible while resigning themselves to losing the striker at the end of this season.
Former Ibrox wheeler-dealer Martin Bain was Chief Executive of Sunderland as they suffered successive relegations.