Aliadiere move expected
Arsenal striker Jeremie Aliadiere is expected be unveiled as Celtic’s latest signing later today.
The 22-year-old Frenchman arrived in Glasgow on Thursday for a medical and further negotiations on his season-long loan deal.
Celtic Park manager Gordon Strachan has already drafted full-back Mo Camara into his squad and has opened initial talks with Legia Warsaw for goalkeeper Artur Boruc.
The Hoops have also been told that Poland striker Maciej Zurawski, 28, is willing to join them from Wisla Krakow.
The capture of Aliadiere will provide the young Highbury forward with the opportunity of first-team action – most notably in the Champions League.
He said: “I know Celtic are a very big club, they play in the Champions League and do well in it too. I just hope that it will be good for me which is why I am here.
“Celtic are a big club, with a big atmosphere and big crowds. That is very important for me.”
Legia sports director Jacek Bednarz confirmed negotiations have been opened with Celtic over Boruc.
The 25-year-old has been compared to Liverpool’s Champions League hero, Jerzy Dudek, by his club.
Turkish club Trabzonspor have had an offer for the 25-year-old rejected, while Crystal Palace are also looking at the keeper, according to the Polish side.
Bednarz said: “The offer from Trabzonspor was not enough. Celtic have not made an offer, but they are negotiating with Raymond Sparkes, who is acting on behalf of Artur and ourselves.
“But we have now begun preparing for the new season and he is training with us and, today, we will go to a training camp in Austria and he will come with us.
“We need him because he is a very good player. Although Jerzy Dudek is the top Polish goalkeeper, Artur has the same level of ability, he only lacks Jerzy’s experience. However, if we receive an offer from Celtic, Trabzonspor or Palace that matches our valuation of Artur, then we will sell him.”
He added: “He is one of our main players. For me, he is the best in Poland.”
The Hoops have yet to finalise arrangements with Wisla Krakow over the transfer of Zurawski and are not likely to complete the move until next week.
It is understood Celtic have yet to agree to the Polish champions’ proposals for the payment structure of a £2.1m (€3.1m) deal and as a result the player is still in his homeland.
A Wisla spokesman said: “The next move is on the Celtic side. We have sent them our proposal. They have to confirm that they still want him. We are still waiting for a response from Celtic.”
