Declan Gallagher is prepared to try and force through a dream move to Celtic.
The Motherwell defender is out of contract in the summer but only six appearances away from triggering an automatic one-year extension.
And the Scotland centre back fears it could cost him the chance of a summer move with other clubs circling.
The Daily Record reports that Celtic, along with Aberdeen, Hibs and Blakcburn are all monitoring the situation.
The 29-year-old was a youth player at Celtic Park and his family are all lifelong fans of the club.
Christopher Jullien is out for four months with an injury and on-loan Brighton man Shane Duffy has been woefully out of form since arriving from England.
So defence is an area where Neil Lennon is in need of reinforcements.
A source close to Gallagher said: “He is desperate to play for Celtic and in the current climate, he would be a brilliant signing.
“But with this contract and the automatic extension, he feels he has a gun to his head.”
