Celtic and Watford are in competition to sign Hearts teenage goalkeeper Harry Stone.
The Scotland youth international turns 17 later this month and will be eligible to sign his first professional contract.
Watford want to take Stone south of the border, offering him a place in their under-18 and under-23 squads for the coming season working under former Arsenal goalkeeper Graham Stack.
The Daily Record understands the English Premier League club is confident of beating Celtic to Stone's signature.
Watford also plan to bring Daniel Bachmann back from a successful loan season at Kilmarnock and offer the Austrian the opportunity to establish himself as No.2 to Ben Foster.
Current second-choice Heurelho Gomes plans to retire from football to become a pastor in his native Brazil at the end of this, his fifth year, at Vicarage Road.
Celtic, meanwhile, currently have three first-team squad shot-stoppers on their books. Scott Bain is No.1 while Craig Gordon and Dorus de Vries are also options to Neil Lennon, while Ryan Mullen and Reece Willison are the reserves’ goalkeepers.
De Vries is out of contract in the summer and will move on.
Daniel Bachmann claims Rangers have made contact over a summer transfer
