Exclusive: Celtic defender close to exit as he accepts offer & personal terms agreed
By Wayne Veysey
Jozo Simunovic has agreed personal terms with Lille as he closes in on a permanent exit from Celtic, Football Insider can reveal.
The defender, 24, has accepted the offer of a long-term contract from the newly-rich French club that will see his current salary of around £10,000-a-week double.
A Celtic source has told Football Insider the club have not yet agreed a fee for Simunovic with Lille but negotiations over the transfer are ongoing and likely to be finalised.
The French window remains open until 31 August, but Celtic have only until the end of August to sign a replacement for the Croatian centre-back if a deal is agreed.
Lille coach Christophe Galtier has already confirmed his interest in Simunovic and the Ligue 1 big hitters have money in the bank after the £72million sale of Nicolas Pepe to Arsenal.
The former Dinamo Zagreb defender has entered the final two years of his contract at Celtic and is ready to move after four years at the club.
He has made 114 appearances Celtic in four years and was set to be regular starter this season after playing the full 90 minutes of each of their four Champions League qualifier games.
Simunovic sat out Saturday's opening-day SPL 7-0 thrashing of St Johnstone due to a suspension incurred in a pre-season friendly.