Gustaf Lagerbielke sees Celtic exit shot arise as Lecce hone in on £3m Parkead outcast

Serie A side Lecce are exploring the possibility of landing Celtic defender Gustaf Lagerbielke on loan - according to a report from Italy.

The 23-year-old has barely featured since September but did net the winner against Feyenoord off the bench to end the Parkhead side's 10-year wait for a home Champions League win. But now the Sweden international could earn salvation in Serie A as Gianluca Di Marzio states Lecce want a six-month loan with no attachments. Fellow summer arrival Maik Nawrocki appears ahead of Lagerbielke in the pecking order with Liam Scales and Cameron Carter-Vickers entrenched as starters.

Boss Brendan Rodgers has praised Lagerbielke's application and commitment during training but options have been limited for a player who watched Stephen Welsh start ahead of him in the absence of the USA international. Lagerbielke arrived in the summer after winning the Swedish defender of the season for Elfsborg

But not a temporary Parkhead exit could be in the offing for Lagerbielke. The Premiership champions allowed Nat Phillips to leave after six months on loan from Liverpool. And Record Sport revealed Scott McKenna is not on the Parkhead wishlist even though Rodgers was a long-term admirer of the Scotland international.

And he would link-up with former Aberdeen standout Yiber Ramadani in Italy if a deal is rubber-stamped.