Gabriel Tamas is on the verge of a £3.5million move to Celtic after the Parkhead club were granted permission to speak to the Auxerre defender.The 24-year-old Romania international is set to become Gordon Strachan's second signing of the summer following the recent recruitment of Paddy McCourt from Derry City.

Auxerre manager Jean Fernandez said: "I expected to see Gabriel back at training on Monday after he was given an extended break following his hectic summer with Romania.

"But I got a call first thing from his agent to confirm he was on his way to Glasgow to talk to Celtic.

"If it all goes through then I will be delighted for Gabriel.

"He is a big, big player with huge ambitions in the game and Celtic are the right club to match them."

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