Celtic are on the trail of Manchester City’s young playmaker Olivier Ntcham after his value quadrupled, according to the Scottish Sun.
The newspaper claim that Brendan Rodgers has set his signs on the 21-year-old Frenchman, who has been capped by France at various youth levels up to Under-21, after being alerted to his potential availability.
The Scottish Sun report that Celtic are plotting a £4million move to sign Ntcham, who moved to City from Le Havre in a £1million deal as a 16-year-old in 2012.
The treble winners are “hopeful” that a bid of £4million will be enough to seal the deal for the rising star, who has made a big impression in Serie A in the last two seasons.
Ntcham has spent successive campaigns on loan at Italian club Genoa, making 43 appearances in all competitions, 20 of which came in Serie A in 2016-17.
It is reported that Genoa did not take up an option to buy the Frenchman permanently and he has returned to City, where he has a contract that runs until 2020.
The Scottish Sun report that Celtic have emerged as a “serious option” for the mobile attacking midfielder, although there is also interest from Italian duo Lazio and Torino.
Ntcham can play anywhere in midfield and also as a wide player, but Rodgers has earmarked him to be the No10 at Parkhead.
Completion of a deal would also extend the transfer links between City and Celtic in recent seasons.
The Scottish giants have taken Jason Denayer, John Guidetti and Patrick Roberts on loan from the Etihad – and spent around £1.5million on centre-back Dedryck Boyata, who is now facing up to three months out with knee ligament damage.