Celtic are in line to scoop a six figure transfer bonanza if Hearts star Aaron Hickey leaves the club.
Man City and Southampton are circling the 17-year-old who has been a breath of fresh air in either full-back position for the Jambos.
The youngster left Celtic's youth set-up in July 2018 to return to Tynecastle where he began his career as a kid.
The Sun reports the Hoops took the decision to insert a mammoth 30% sell on fee as part of that deal. They were entitled to a training compensation fee, but such was the club's faith in the player's potential they decided to negotiate an alternative structure.
Given a fee of £2m has been mooted, £600k would therefore be put aside for the Glasgow club should a deal be agreed.
Hickey was a star performer in the Scottish Cup Final where he was pitted against Player of the Year James Forrest and the youngster has taken that form into this season.
He has the versatility to play across the full-back or wing-back positions and is helped by being extraordinarily two-footed, as he proved when coming off the left hand side to score with his right foot against Hibs in Hearts' crucial derby win last month.
While contracted until 2021, Hearts are keen to agree a new deal, something Craig Levein has admitted is proving more complex than hoped.
He said: “We are in the middle of that just now. It has been quite difficult, though.
“He doesn’t have an agent. I’ve been dealing with his dad and it has been a little bit drawn out.
“But I’m confident we’ll get there in the end.
“It’s not bothering the boy. It’s not something he’s overly concerned about.”
