Report: Celtic make breakthrough in pursuit of ‘terrific’ 25-year-old

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Celtic have reportedly made a breakthrough in their pursuit of Ben Davies, reaching a pre-contract agreement with the 25-year-old defender, according to Sky Sports.

The Hoops were first linked with Davies as his contract at English second-tier club Preston entered its final 12 months.

With Davies’ contract now in its final six months, the player is free to speak to non-English clubs about signing for free once his current deal expires.

And according to Sky Sports, Celtic have succeeded in reaching an agreement which would see the centre-back move to Parkhead in the summer.

The Bhoys have reportedly beaten the likes of Bournemouth, who saw a bid for Davies rejected last summer and have apparently been tracking his situation this month.

The Englishman, a left-footed centre-back who can also play at left-back, is a product of Preston’s academy.

He enjoyed numerous loan spells in the EFL prior to breaking into the Lilywhites’ first-team on a regular basis during the 2017-18 season.

Davies has played 18 games in the Championship this season, with Alex Neil’s side currently six points adrift of the playoff places.

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Celtic are in dire need of bolstering their ranks this summer given the way this season has panned out, not to mention the potential of players leaving Parkhead at the end of the campaign.

Davies has shown he’s a cut above in the English second tier and it’s little surprise that he’s now being linked with a step up – indeed, it’s surprising it’s taken this long.

Former Preston boss Graham Westley had tipped the defender for a big move as early as 2013, when he was just 17 and had made his Lilywhites debut against Walsall.

“I expect George Boyd in this window or the next to move to the Premier League, and I’m not embarrassed to say that Ben has the same sort of potential,” he is quoted by LFE as saying.

“He got himself up and running as the game went on and was calm and composed. That was a terrific debut.”