Paddy McNair.

Celtic's are set to launch a £5m bid for Middlesbrough midfielder Paddy McNair after David Turnbull’s Parkhead move was finally dead in the water.

Hoops boss Neil Lennon is now pursuing other targets after failing to negotiate a revised deal with Motherwell following problems discovered during the 19-year-old’s medical.

And Record Sport understands former Manchester United and Sunderland star McNair is high up on his shopping list.

The 24-year-old – who came through the ranks at Old Trafford – is also wanted by Sheffield United after impressing for Northern Ireland in the Euro 2020 qualifiers against Belarus and Estonia.

McNair has played in midfield for his country but is also adept at centre back and it’s his versatility that appeals to Celtic.

Bolton youngster Luca Connell is in talks with the club and got the VIP tour of Parkhead on Thursday. Lennon confirmed Hoops chiefs are in talks with the promising 18-year-old but there is interest from around the country.

Christopher Jullien is set to complete his £7m move from Toulouse on Friday after going through a medical in London.

The 6ft 5ins centre back is expected to be unveiled in Glasgow before heading out to Austria to join up with the rest of the squad.

Lennon is delighted to get the first deal over the line but he admitted the club have several irons in the fire.

He said: “It is an ongoing quest and it is hard.

“I’m talking about the market value of players and these deals change day by day.

“There are a lot of plates spinning at the moment and we are still exploring options as the window goes on.

“But we haven’t really pushed the button on anyone yet.”

Lennon wants up to five more new faces but he admitted current players such as Marian Shved and Vakoun Bayo have been like new signings.

Ukraine ace Shved spent the remainder of last season back on loan at Karpaty Lviv following the £2m deal, while Bayo was crocked soon after arriving at Parkhead.

Lennon is looking to give the pair game time over in Austria as they ramp up their preparations against Wiener SC tomorrow.

The Hoops boss said: “Shved looks good. He has trained well so obviously we will give him some game time on Saturday.

“He has trained well and then has been away with his country. But he’s had a bit of a break and now has trained well with us.

“He looks good. It’s like having a new player.

“Bayo is like a new player. Leigh Griffiths back is like having a new player, if we can get him fit and firing again.

“So I feel very positive and am looking forward to it all.

“We feel no panic, there is no rush. Work is being done in the background. Deals will get done, there is no question of that.

“It is just about getting the right ones at the right price, and at the right quality.”

 

* that.

 

Orange *

 

Is he not a hun?

 

Even if we wanted him and I don't. He will never play for us.

He is steeped in red white and blue

 

No thanks

 

Bullshit link imo

Would never sign and Lennon would never want him.

 

Go and get the Ecuadorian for half the price.

This guy's a hun and *.

 

So because we can't get a box to box attacking, goalscoring midfielder.....we turn our attention to a defensive midfielder/full back who is injury prone and a currant bun..

Aye i get the logic I suppose..

 

May be interest but he's never coming to us, guy is a major hun.

 

I can think of 5 million things I'd rather spend 5 million pounds on

 

Canny wait to get rejected off an orange * from Belfast who’s absolute mockit at football.

Potential to be an even bigger laughing stock than the Turnbull transfer.

 

Orange *

 

I'd rather pay 5 mill for McKenna and throw in Hendry free as a water carrier.

 

Article seems a bit off tbh

Aside from the surely ridiculous prospect of spending 5m on someone of McNair’s ability, the quotes attributable to Lennon referencing 'like having a new player' in relation to Bayo and Griffiths seem almost self-parodying… then you’ve got him supposedly saying it in reference to Shved as well. *?

 

Sister *