CELTIC are being linked with Sampdoria’s defender Omar Colley. The Italian media website Calciomercato is claiming that the Scottish Champions are interested in bringing the Gambian to Glasgow but face a hefty fee of £13.5m if they wish to entice the 27-year-old into a transfer from Serie A.

With 12 caps to his name as well as 31 appearances last season with the Italian side gives him the kind of experience that Neil Lennon needs in his defence.

Celtic have been linked to Shane Duffy in recent weeks but there has been nothing concrete meaning the club will need to look to the wider transfer market for defensive recruits. Kris Ajer and Christopher Jullien remain the only senior, natural defenders at the club following Jozo Simunovic’s departure.

A third defender would allow Neil Lennon to play 3-5-2 domestically as well as giving a physical presence at the back – something that Jullien and Ajer were lacking against Kilmarnock.

The fee quoted is too high for Celtic and it is more than likely that the club are being used as a stalking horse to galvanise interest in the defender. As much as this would be an impressive signing, it is going to be chalked down as highly unlikely.