Sources: PL club open preliminary talks with Celtic player as big-money offer readied
Burnley have opened preliminary talks with Nir Bitton's camp as they look to prise him from Celtic in January, Football Insider understands.
The Premier League outfit have set their sights on the giant midfielder, 28, ahead of the winter window with his contract expiring next summer.
A Burnley source has told Football Insider that the club have held third-party talks with Bitton's representatives to explore his interest in moving down south.
Sean Dyche's side are ready to offer Bitton a lucrative offer that would include a significant pay rise to tempt him to Lancashire.
Bitton is set to be available for a bargain fee as his Hoops contract expires next June.
Burnley are keen on Bitton as he has extensive top-level experience and can play in central midfield as well as provide cover at centre-back.
The 6ft 4in Israeli has spent six years at Celtic and been a key man in the club's total dominance of the Scottish game, which has included eight consecutive league titles as well as the triple treble.
Most of his 15 appearances this season have been at centre-back, mainly in the early months of the campaign when Neil Lennon needed cover due to multiple injuries.
Since joining the Glasgow giants in the summer of 2013 from FC Ashdod, Bitton has made 196 appearances for Celtic in all competitions.
He has also racked up 25 full international caps.