Celtic want deal for 'quick' defender on £22,000-a-week; talks ongoing 'led' by Nicholson

Celtic are still in discussions with Tottenham over a permanent deal for Cameron Carter-Vickers, John McGinley reports.

Carter-Vickers made the move to Glasgow late in the summer window and has been a near ever-present figure under Ange Postecoglou.

The centre-back, labelled as ‘quick’ by former Bournemouth boss Jonathan Woodgate, has missed just one Scottish Premiership fixture since becoming a Hoops player and has been the club’s best performing centre-back, as per WhoScored.

Reports at the beginning of January suggested that the club were working on permanent moves for both Carter-Vickers and Jota after including options in their respective loan deals. Full-time transfers failed to materialise last month, but it seems as if Celtic are still in talks.

Celtic reporter McGinley took to Twitter on Saturday evening to relay comments from Postecoglou on Carter-Vickers and Jota.

He said that talks are continuing and are being led by CEO Michael Nicholson.

“Ange Postecoglou says discussions re: the purchase of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jota are ongoing ‘over the next period’, led by Michael Nicholson and involving the players themselves. ‘It will take care of itself.’ No guarantees, of course.”

Carter-Vickers, on £22,000-a-week, has proven he can be a reliable and top member of Postecoglou’s squad, so making his move permanent appears to be a no brainer.

The option to buy fee reportedly stands at an initial £6m, a figure which is over twice his Transfermarkt valuation. Nicholson may be looking to bring that fee down slightly, however, there is thought to be no wriggle room on the overall price.

It could well be that talks continue until the summer, where Nicholson and Celtic may have to make a decision one way or the other