Celtic to roll out carpet for Rangers fan Allan

Hibernian have accepted Celtic’s cash plus players bid for midfielder Scott Allan, who is also a target for Rangers.

However, the Edinburgh club have now agreed to let Allan move to Celtic, with the two clubs agreeing a fee, while Liam Henderson is set to move to Hibernian on loan as part of the transfer.

Allan’s boyhood heroes Rangers had been keen on the 23-year-old, but had three bids knocked back for the playmaker with Hibs adamant they would not sell to their Championship rivals.

Asked how close Celtic were to making a firm offer for Allan, the Hoops boss said: “I can’t comment on anything until something is done”.

“I know the high-quality of players at the club and I know it will be a big personal challenge for me but it’s one I’m ready for and one I am relishing”.

“We’re the champions and we’re trying to get into the Champions League and he is a player with ambitions so he’ll want to come and play with Celtic”, Forrest added.

Forrest, a former Scotland Under-21 team-mate of Allan, said: “If he does sign, once you start playing games then everything gets forgotten about”.

Celtic are obviously the higher profile and arguably better option for any player, based on the position of both clubs at the moment.

Deila said: “We’re really pleased to welcome Scott to Celtic”.

“I am sure the fans will be right behind him because he will be a really good player for Celtic”. He’s technically really good, the type of player that will be good for Celtic.

‘We didn’t say Scott Allan was not for sale at all – we just said Scott Allan was not for sale to Rangers.

Not only did Commons stun Nottingham Forest when he left them for local rivals Derby County, he too had been heavily linked with Rangers prior to joining Celtic in a cut-price deal in January 2011.

Johnstone has suggested that the situation is very much down to the player and what he wants and what he’s thinking in relation to his future.

“If you had told me at this point last season that I would be starting on the next flag day, I would have laughed at you”.

“We had a good result last week, so we’re looking forward to the game”.

Allan, speaking to the club website, said: “I am absolutely delighted to sign for Celtic, it is such a fantastic club. But now that’s it actually happened, I’m hungry for more games, so I will keep working hard as always”.