Celtic have ramped up their efforts to sign Liam Scales by submitting a formal offer for the Shamrock Rovers ace.
Mirror Sport understands that advanced talks between the clubs went well yesterday and the Hoops are now considering the offer.
There is also interest in the 22-year-old from English Championship clubs but Celtic are expected to win out.
Scales has been one of the standout performers in the League of Ireland this season, turning in a string of impressive displays.
He is under contract with the Hoops until the end of the 2022 season and Rovers won’t allow him leave on the cheap.
A League of Ireland transfer record could be on the cards, trumping the €500,000 Rovers received from Manchester City for Gavin Bazunu and what Sunderland paid Cork City for Roy O’Donovan.
It is unclear if Celtic’s interest will spark a bidding war for the centre-back who has also played superbly at left-wing back this year.
But there is a sense that a deal with Celtic - whose owner Dermot Desmond has a 25% stake in Shamrock Rovers - could be completed quickly if personal terms are agreed.
Scales is expected to be available for Thursday’s Europa Conference League third round, first-leg clash against Albanian side Teuta in Tallaght.
