Celtic are considering making Dundee defender Luke Graham their first signing of the summer, with Football Insider reporting that he has been attracting the interest of the reigning champions.
However, it isn't only Celtic who want to snatch him up, with Rangers and Portsmouth reportedly also keen on making a move.
Graham is one of the standout young defenders in the Scottish Premiership and would be a brilliant addition to Celtic's defence. He has been consistently performing well for Dundee this season and has proven himself to be a reliable option.
In all competitions, he has made 30 appearances this season at the age of 22, and he has even managed to find the net twice. He is a strong defender who doesn't mind the physical aspect of football, and his ability is just going to improve as the years go on.
He would provide competition to Cameron Carter-Vickers, Liam Scales and Auston Trusty, and would be able to improve alongside some of the best players in Scotland.
He would also provide more cover for the centre-back position, with players like Stephen Welsh and Benjamin Arthur unlikely to stay.
Welsh has enjoyed his season at Motherwell so far and has found his form, so a permanent move could potentially be on the cards.
Arthur is yet to make an appearance for the Celts since joining on loan on deadline day, and will likely return to Brentford when all is said and done.
Dundee boss Steven Pressley speaks highly of Graham and has even compared the young defender to Jarrad Banthwaite, who he brought through during his time at Carlisle United.
Pressley said:
"When I look around at centre-backs, young centre-backs, he’s one of the top ones out there. I was lucky that I brought through at Carlisle young Branthwaite. He’s now an England international, so I’ve seen first-hand his level. I think Luke Graham looks very comparable to that."
Dundee are reportedly looking for a fee of around £1 million for Graham.
A brilliant option for Celtic, but they won't move too soon
Although it's clear that Graham is a perfect option for Celtic, they won't make a move before the summer window opens because they still have the difficult task of appointing a new permanent manager.
Martin O'Neill is set to leave at the end of the season, with Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez the favourite to replace him. The race for the Parkhead dugout is incredibly tight, and the manager who comes in may not be interested in Graham. An appointment will need to be confirmed before Celtic takes their interest in the defender forward.
Since the club are likely to wait, that sadly opens the door for other clubs like Rangers and Portsmouth to snatch him up. If they make an offer and Graham is keen, he would likely accept the move and snub the Hoops. We can only hope that it won't take too long for Celtic to put their money where their mouth is.