Sunderland Prepare Samaras Raid

Georgios Samaras is believed to be a shock transfer target for Sunderland. Steve Bruce has vowed to bring in a striker before the transfer window closes with the Celtic forward high in his list of options. Despite big money moves for Asamoah Gyan and Connor Wickham over the last twelve months Sunderland have scored just once this season in the Premiership and were dumped out of the League Cup by Brighton and lost the Tyne-Wear derby at home to Newcastle. Bruce is under pressure after spending £30m during the current transfer window and believes that Samaras could provide the missing link for his strikers. After a goal-less draw at Swansea on Saturday the Sunderland boss admitted: “We’ve brought in Ji (Dong Won) and Wickham as players for the future. We’ve definitely got two players of potential there but we won’t see the best of either of them for a year to 18 months. “In the meantime we need a bit extra up front. If we’re honest we’ve been a bit lacking in that department since Darren Bent left for Aston Villa last January so we’ll do all we can to bring someone in by Wednesday night. We’ll just have to try our best and see if it’s possible.’ Samaras is believed to be high on Bruce’s wanted list with Celtic prepared to offload the former Manchester City man if they get a bid of £2m. Bruce is also watching Papiss Demba Cisseof Freiburg but has been quoted a price of £13m and got little encouragement from his interest in Spurs strikers Robbie Keane and Peter Crouch.

Liverpool Swoop For Celtic Winger

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish is considering a shock move for Celtic winger Paddy McCourt. The Northern Ireland international hit the headlines last week with a stunning goal in his country’s 4-0 win over the Faroe Islands. The 'Daily Mirror' reported that Liverpool had been monitoring the 27-year-old and their interest has been flushed out by the attention McCourt is now receiving from other clubs. He joined the Bhoys in 2008 but has struggled to hold down a starting spot in the SPL. However, he has outrageous talent but his lack of consistency has held him back throughout his career. Dalglish is aware of the damage he can do and is keen on adding his flair to the Reds squad having already splashed over £50 million in the transfer market. McCourt would be an unlikely starter but is capable of coming off the bench and making an explosive impact.

Stoke, Celtic,Blackburn and Sunderland Chase Bellamy

Stoke City have joined the race to sign Craig Bellamy from Manchester City, with Celtic, Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers also exploring the possibility of taking the Welshman on a season-long loan.

Bellamy has one year remaining on his contract at Eastlands but there is also a 12-month option that is in the club's favour, meaning that City can still ask for a significant fee for the 31-year-old. There is certainly no chance of Bellamy remaining at City, with Roberto Mancini, the club's manager, having made it clear last summer that the striker is not part of his plans.

The most likely outcome is that Bellamy, who spent last season on loan with Cardiff City, where he scored 11 goals in 36 appearances, will be allowed out on loan for another campaign. City, however, have no intention of sanctioning another deal where they cover the majority of the player's wages, which was the case with Cardiff.

Tony Pulis would be keen to take Bellamy on a season-long loan as he seeks to add more firepower to his forward line. The Stoke manager also retains an interest in Birmingham City's Cameron Jerome and West Ham United's Carlton Cole, and it may well be that signing either of those players is more straightforward than Bellamy, who stated last season that he would not play for another Premier League club other than Manchester City.

At that point, Bellamy was talking in terms of returning to Cardiff for a second season, as part of his dream to lead his hometown club into the Premier League, although he now appears to accept that it is highly unlikely that will happen. Celtic, where Bellamy spent the second half of the 2004‑05 season, appears his most likely destination, with the Scottish Premier League club keen to secure his services for a second time.

Pulis, nonetheless, would like the opportunity to test the water with Bellamy. The Stoke manager is keen to add experience and quality to his squad ahead of a season that will place greater demands on his players because of the club's participation in the Europa League. Bellamy fits that profile.

Celtic to Sign Jay Bothroyd

Reports from Scotland are saying out of contract Cardiff City striker Jay Bothroyd was up in Glasgow yesterday having a medical at Celtic.Bothroyd has been linked with a host of clubs from the English Premiership with Everton seeming to be leading the chase for the 6ft 3 inch strikers signature.Now sources from inside the Parkhead club have leaked that the player was in Glasgow having a medical, being taken a tour around Celtic Park and being shown the clubs training facilities at Lennoxtown. Celtic boss Neil Lennon’s attention was first drawn to Boothroyd when he was at the Cardiff City stadium to watch The Championship play-off semi final second leg between Cardiff and Reading.The Cardiff striker who although couldn’t shoot his team to promotion still managed an impressive twenty goals this season. Earning his first International cap in the process. With Celtic already having a few former Bluebirds on their books at Parkhead.Bothroyd would feel right at home there having already played with Joe Ledley, Glenn Loovens and young Adam Matthews. The twenty-nine year is a big powerful forward. Good in the air, quick with the ball at his feet and real handful for defenders to deal with. Exactly the kind of forward Neil Lennon has been looking for.

He and Gary Hooper have the potential to form a frightening partnership up front in Scotland.

Celtic Snatch Cardiff City Star

Celtic have clinched a deal for Cardiff City fullback Adam Matthews.

The Scottish Sun says Hoops boss Neil Lennon has persuaded the teenage full-back to ignore Premier League interest and move to Parkhead. Wales Under-21 starlet Matthews had been linked with Manchester United.

But Cardiff insiders last night confirmed the deal has been DONE for the 19-year-old prospect who is rated in the £4million bracket but can join Celts for a compensation fee of just £200,000.

It is understood Celtic - who already have Welsh international midfielder Joe Ledley on the books from Cardiff - have told the Championship club they plan to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with Matthews to allow him to become a Hoops player on July 1.

CELTIC SNAP UP KRIS COMMONS

Celtic are set to announce the signing of Kris Commons after the Scotland international finalised his move to Parkhead.

It is understood that Commons has agreed a three-and-a-half-year deal.

The 27-year-old winger earlier completed a medical at Ross Hall Hospital after Celtic had a bid believed to be in the region of £300,000 accepted by Derby on Wednesday.

Rangers manager Walter Smith had confirmed his interest in the player on Tuesday amid talks between his club and County, but the debt-hit Ibrox club lack the financial muscle to compete with their Old Firm rivals.

Commons was out of contract at Pride Park in the summer and had failed to sign a new deal despite lengthy negotiations.

He will now join former Nottingham Forest team-mate Neil Lennon's squad ahead of the Co-operative Insurance Cup semi-final against Aberdeen on Saturday.

Burnley and Celtic chase Vaughan

Burnley and Celtic have entered the race to sign Everton striker James Vaughan.
The 22-year-old has just returned to Goodison Park after spending four months on loan at Crystal Palace but the Championship strugglers have been priced out of a permanent move.
The forward become the Premier League's youngest goalscorer when he opened his account on his Everton debut, in a 4-0 win over Crystal Palace in 2005, but he has failed to nail down a regular place under David Moyes.
Celtic would have no trouble matching the forward's £2m valuation but the youngster could prefer to stay in England and link up with Burnley's new manager Eddie Howe as he prepares to rejuvenate his side as they bid for a place in the Championship play-offs.