Exclusive: Celtic open talks to sign £3m-valued player proven in PL

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Published on:

06 Jul 2019, 6:30 am

EXCLUSIVE By Wayne Veysey

Celtic have opened talks with Huddersfield Town about signing right-back Tommy Smith, Football Insider has learned.

The Scottish giants are locked in a battle with Stoke City to land the 27-year-old, who could leave the Terriers this window after their relegation to the Championship.

A Celtic source has told Football Insider the club are working on a deal for Smith and negotiations are underway over a deal for the £3million-valued defender.

There is strong competition for Smith as he is also a firm target for Stoke manager Nathan Jones, who, as revealed by Football Insider last month, has made him one of his priority targets this summer.

Huddersfield are vulnerable to losing Smith after their return to the Championship, given that he is out of contract next summer.

They are braced for formal bids for their club captain, whose experience and pedigree is highly regarded by leading clubs north and south of the border.

Celtic are in the market to sign at least one senior right-back this summer following the exits of Mikael Lustig, Cristian Gamboa and Jeremy Toljan.

Smith has been a key player for Huddersfield since joining in 2012 after his Manchester City release, accumulating 39 Premier League appearances and 143 in the Championship.

He ended last season as the first choice right-back at Huddersfield after being on the fringes of the starting XI for the first half of the campaign.

In other Celtic news, Darren Bent has slaughtered a Hoops big name he tips to be soon given the boot.

Celtic

Huddersfield Town