By Wayne Veysey

20th Mar, 2021 | 8:00am

Sources: Harkin appointment is '90% done' after Celtic talks this week

Celtic are closing in on the appointment of Fergal Harkin as their new director of football, Football Insider understands.

This site revealed on 12th March that the Glasgow giants had opened talks with the Man City transfer guru over taking on the key executive role as part of a major summer overhaul.

A Celtic source has told Football Insider that further discussions have taken place this week and a deal for Harkin is now “90 per cent done”.

Harkin, 44, is the football partnerships manager at Premier League leaders City and his knowledge and experience built up during 11 years at the club is said to have impressed Celtic.

There is a strong conviction that the Irishman can identify and recruit top young talents from across the globe using the connections he has built up.

Celtic have employed specialists Nolan Partners to help recruit their new director of football.

But the filling of the key executive vacancy may be just the start of a stampede of arrivals at Parkhead from Man City.

As revealed by Football Insider, a team of analysts and recruitment experts may follow Harkin, 44, to Glasgow.

Celtic are work on a complete shake-up of their recruitment and football operation on the back of a wretched season in which Rangers marched to the league title.

Football Insider revealed last month that head of recruitment Gary Penrice is set to leave Celtic at the end of the season and head of football operations Nicky Hammond is also likely to go.

It is expected Celtic will appoint a director of football, a chief scout working below him and a team of analysts to crunch the numbers and provide state-of-the-art date.

The club’s plan is to finalise the director of football appointment before narrowing down their new manager search.

In other news, Kieran Maguire delivers verdict on Ibrox expansion as Rangers plot to rocket past Celtic revenues.