Celtic transfer activity accelerates as fresh bid submitted for World Cup star

The Premiership champions have made signing a wide man one of their priorities and are understood to now be closing in a deal for Hassan, with reports in Spain indicating that Oviedo are likely to accept Celtic’s offer, which is claimed to be in the region of £9 million.

Hassan is a 24-year-old Egypt internationalist who represented his country at this summer’s World Cup. He started both of his nation’s knock-out phase matches against Australia and Argentina has been capped six times in total.

Born in Paris, Hassan came through the youth ranks at Chateauroux and has since played for Villarreal and Oviedo in the Spanish leagues. He is regarded as one of Oviedo’s key men and it is widely accepted that he will leave the club during this window.

Celtic have been linked with Hassan throughout the summer and want to bring in more players ahead of their Champions League play-off clash with Austrian side LASK.

They have also seen two bids knocked back by Italian side Frosinone for winger Fares Ghedjemis, with the Serie A outfit only ready to entertain fees in the region of £11m. Rangers are also in for the Algerian player.

Celtic have so far signed forwards Camilo Duran and Kasper Hogh for a combined total of £17m and have also made moves to sign Paderborn’s German midfielder Mika Baur. In the opposite direction, forward Daizen Maeda and defender Maik Nawrocki have been sold to Ipswich Town and Lens respectively, while Paulo Bernardo has joined Gornik Zabrze on loan.

There is also substantial interest from West Ham in midfielder Arne Engels, although interest in right-back Alistair Johnston from Everton is said to have cooled, with Celtic wanting to keep the Canadian for their Champions League play-off.