According to Sky Sports, Celtic have reached an agreement with Preston to sign Ben Davies in the summer.

What's the story?

The 6 foot 1 centre-back is out of contract come the end of the season, and he was also reported to be of interest to Neil Lennon's side last summer.

Now, Sky Sports claim that the Hoops look set to finally land their man, and that they will be fending off interest from the likes of Sheffield United to bring Davies to Celtic Park.

Bye-bye Duffy

With Shane Duffy enduring a nightmare spell whilst on loan from Brighton - reports in recent weeks have even suggested that Nottingham Forest have made an approach to the Seagulls to take him away from Celtic Park for the rest of the campaign - it's no surprise that the Hoops are after a new centre-back.

And in Davies, Peter Lawwell could deliver his parting gift to Celtic following confirmation that he is set to retire in the summer.

Davies has been a virtual ever-present for Preston this season, making 18 appearances in the Championship this season, and only missing some games mid-way through the campaign due to a hamstring injury.

His boss at Preston, Alex Neill, said: "Once I had looked at Ben, assessed the whole squad and seen him for a couple of weeks I thought to myself that we have a really good player on our hands.

"Ben has got a good left foot and he should really have more confidence in it than he actually has. He is better with it than he gives himself credit for. The lad has really good pace, which for a centre-back is rare. He reads the game well and has the determination to get better."

Celtic could wave goodbye to Duffy and bring Davies in as his replacement, and that could be Lawwell's final major piece of business before he calls it a day.

Meanwhile, Celtic could sign their Kieran Tierney successor in this starlet...