Crosas "I'd love to play for Celtic"

[Martin]

Crosas - "I'd love to play for Celtic"

Barcelona's young star Marc Crosas has given the strongest indication so far that he may be playing his football with Scottish champions Celtic next season. The young Catalan is under contract with Barcelona until 2010 but was loaned to Lyon last season. Barcelona coach Pepe Guardiola was happy for the young midfielder to gain first team experience in France last season and, with limited opportunities in Barca's first team looking likely for the season ahead, Guardiola seems happy to look at a one season loan deal once more.

Celtic do face competition though from Sevilla for Crosas's services. Crosas is quoted as saying

"I would love to join Celtic. I enjoyed my time last season at Lyon a lot and it is now up to Barcelona to agree a deal with Celtic or Sevilla."

Crosas featured in both of Barca's recent emphatic victories over Hibs and Dundee United as the Catalan giants based their pre-season training camp in Scotland, as they did last season.

Crosas went on to add

"Both (Celtic and Sevilla) have made proposals which appear acceptable to Barca. An agreement now has to be struck with one of them so that I know where I will be playing next season."

Celtic fans will be hoping that his positive experience in Scotland over the summer, and in France last season, will be enough to see him in the Hoops next season.

Further transfer speculation emerged today that Le Mans defender Marko Basa has reportedly rejected a move to Celtic. Meanwhile the Bobo Balde saga took another turn and he is believed to have travelled south to hold contract talks with Sunderland.