Sources: Celtic given encouragement in bid to sign striker as £5m price tag tumbles
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Sources: Celtic given encouragement in bid to sign striker as £5m price tag tumbles

Wayne Veysey
Wayne Veysey

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

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Celtic have been given encouragement in their pursuit of Wigan Athletic striker Joe Gelhardt as his price tag is set to tumble ahead of the formal opening of the summer window.

Football Insider revealed last week that Neil Lennon's side are closely monitoring the 18-year-old centre-forward amid strong rival interest from elite English clubs.

Everton and Leicester are also very keen on Gelhardt, who had been the subject of interest from Liverpool earlier in the season.

A recruitment source has told Football Insider that Gelhardt's price is expected to fall after Wigan announced they have entered administration.

That is a major boost for his suitors, who had previously been told that the wonderkid would cost around £5million.

Celtic are now lining up an offer to try and lure Gelhardt north of the border for a knockdown fee this summer.

The Hoops recruitment team know it will still take a major bid and contract offer to land the England Under-18 international despite the English Championship club's financial troubles.

Celtic have one major advantage over the Premier League elite as they can provide a clearer pathway to first-team football.

Lennon can cite the huge impact made by Jeremie Frimpong in his debut season at Parkhead after quitting Man City to sign on a four-year contract this time last year.

Gelhardt has come through the ranks at Wigan to make 19 first-team appearances in total, 17 of which have come this season.

Most of those matches have been as a substitute and he has scored only a single goal but his fleeting glimpses have encouraged top clubs he is a rare talent.

In other Celtic news, Brown raves as the Hoops are in reported advanced talks to sign Premier League winner.

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