Romanian teenager Dumitru Copil is likely to join Celtic in January. The 17-year-old Atletico Arad midfielder, dubbed the new Georghe Hagi, was also wanted by Hearts and Liverpool.

But after a visit to Parkhead in November the teenager has opted for a move to Glasgow.

"I will be going to Celtic on January 3rd, it is now 90 per cent complete," Copil told reporters. "I regard this as a very big honour to join a club like Celtic because they have an excellent European tradition.

"There were offers from Hearts and Liverpool, but I have decided to go to Glasgow.

"I really enjoyed my time at Hearts and I wanted to become a member of that team after they showed such interest in me.

"But a week after the Hearts trial, Liverpool contacted me and I went there too. I liked Liverpool, but I still felt the best place to develop was at Hearts and then came the chance to go to Celtic.

"After spending time there I decided that Celtic were the best option for me.

"What I want more than anything now is to play for Celtic, to have a good first year with them and to reach as high as I can get.

"I still have studies to complete and in an ideal world I would like to finish them but I have to give football my full commitment."  PA