Exclusive: Celtic plot move to sign newly-available Newcastle star adored by Lennon

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Published on:

24 Dec 2019, 1:30 am

Neil Lennon is plotting a January move for another of his old boys as Celtic turn their attention to Newcastle United midfielder Ki Sung-yueng, Football Insider has learned.

The South Korea international, 30, is out of contract at St James' Park at the end of the season and has been frozen out of the team by Steve Bruce.

A Celtic source has told Football Insider that Lennon is interested in making a move for Ki as he looks to recruit a central midfielder in the upcoming window.

The Hoops manager has already re-signed Fraser Forster, another of the heroes of his first spell in charge, and been rebuffed in his attempts to take Victor Wanyama back to Parkhead.

Lennon has admitted he is still interested in Wanyama on loan next month but it is more likely he will leave Tottenham on a permanent deal amid strong interest from Hertha Berlin in Germany.

Ki is also on the radar of the Northern Irishman, who is a huge admirer of the man who made 87 appearances at Celtic from 2010 to 2012.

This comes after Football Insider revealed that Newcastle are willing to listen to offers for the South Korean in the forthcoming window.

The two-year contract the central midfielder signed last year at Newcastle expires next summer and January represents the last opportunity to secure a fee for him.

Ki has made just one start among three appearances in all competitions since Steve Bruce took over as manager, finding himself behind Isaac Hayden, Jonjo Shelvey and the Longstaff brothers, Sean and Matty, in the pecking order this season.

Ex-Magpies manager Rafael Benitez swooped for the 113-times South Korea international in the wake of Swansea City's relegation from the Premier League.

Ki has nearly 10 years experience in British football after first joining Celtic in 2010 before a stint at Sunderland came either side of lengthy spells at Swansea.

In other Celtic news, it can be REVEALED that Brendan Rodgers is ready to blow his former club out of the water to sign 6ft 4in colossus in January.

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