Celtic are said to be on the verge of signing midfielder Steven Reid on a free transfer. Reports in various newspapers on Tuesday morning say the Republic of Ireland international, whose contract with Blackburn Rovers comes to an end over the summer, has held talks with the Hoops.

Neil Lennon is believed to have recommended the signing of the 29-year-old as Celtic look to improve their squad to challenge Rangers for next season’s SPL title. Loan signings Robbie Keane, Diomansy Kamara and Edson Braafheid will also need replaced, with all returning to their parent clubs shortly.

Reid has been dogged by injuries during his seven year stint at Ewood Park and spent time on loan at Championship clubs QPR and West Bromwich Albion last season after failing to break into Sam Allardyce’s plans.

A central midfielder who can also play out wide, Reid managed just 42 appearances in the past four seasons with Blackburn, suffering persistent back and knee injuries.

He played just three times at the start of the 2006/07 season, forcing his way back into the team for the following campaign and impressing under Mark Hughes. But he suffered another knee injury after just four games of the 2008/09 season and didn’t return to the Blackburn team until August last year.

Reid appeared to get his career back on track last season with his role in helping West Brom gain automatic promotion to the Premier League, playing 10 times following his March move.

The Baggies want to keep Reid at the Hawthorns for their shot at staying in the English top flight next season but Celtic have made a hopeful approach to the London-born player, who started his career with Millwall.

Capped 22 times by the Republic of Ireland on account of his grandparents’ nationality, Reid was part of their squad at the 2002 World Cup and came off the bench in their two group matches with Cameroon and Germany.

Last updated: 18 May 2010, 07:45

Neil Lennon in swoop to take freed Blackburn midfielder Steven Reid to Celtic

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2010/05/18/ - May 18 2010 By Keith Jackson

CELTIC yesterday launched a surprise bid to sign Republic of Ireland international Steven Reid - in a move sanctioned by interim boss Neil Lennon.

Record Sport can reveal the 29-year-old - up for grabs as a free agent after leaving Blackburn - was at the club's Lennoxtown HQ yesterday to open talks on a Parkhead contract and was last night on the brink of agreeing a deal.

But crucially, it's understood Reid's name was first put forward as a suggested summer signing by current caretaker boss Lennon - the first indication that the man from Lurgan is on the verge of being given the job on a permanent basis.

Lennon spent the final few weeks of the season drawing up a list of the transfer targets he would go after were he to be handed full control as Tony Mowbray's successor.

And the fact chief executive Peter Lawwell is forging ahead in his attempts to seal the deal for Reid - on a wage packet likely to be worth around £20,000-a-week - proves the board are prepared to back their man's judgment with hard cash.

Reid has fallen out of the plans at Ewood Park since the arrival of Sam Allardyce as boss and was farmed out on loan to QPR and West Brom.

He had been expected to accept a long-term deal to stay at the Hawthorns but Celtic have now jumped to the front of the queue for his signature.

Sources close to the deal say Lawwell is confident an agreement will be concluded soon - and insist it will be done with Lennon's blessing.

Record Sport was told last night: "The talks went well with Steven and Celtic feel a deal is close. Suffice to say, Neil Lennon. knows all about the player and if he felt for a minute that this was not in Celtic's interests then these talks would not have been taking place."

Quote:

 

Celtic target Steven Reid's move to Parkhead in doubt after midfielder fails medical

May 25 2010 By Keith Jackson

STEVEN REID'S shock move to Celtic is in the balance after doctors failed to give the injury-plagued Republic of Ireland midfielder a clean bill of health.

Record Sport can reveal the Blackburn Rovers free agent has been devastated by news that tests during his Parkhead medical raised question marks over his fitness.

And interim boss Neil Lennon was dealt a further blow last night when it emerged Middlesbrough are trying to hijack his £2.5million move for Scarrothorpe striker Gary Hooper.

Reid - who held signing talks with Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell last week - had been on the verge of clinching a deal worth around £20,000 a week as he at tempted to relaunch his career in Glasgow's East End following two years of agony at Ewood Park.

Knee problems kept Reid on the sidelines before Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce sent him on loan spells to QPR and West Brom.

The injury nightmare prompted Republic boss Giovanni Trapattoni to claim Reid would never get back to playing top-level football - an assertion furiously dismissed at the time by Allardyce.

Now Reid's hopes of a making a fresh start in the SPL have been dealt a hammer blow.

A source close to the deal told Record Sport last night: "Steven thought he was very close to reaching agreement last week but the medical has thrown a spanner in the works.

"It hasn't collapsed totally but some problems have been identified that mean he doesn't tick all the boxes in terms of his physical condition.

"It's unlikely Celtic will now offer the terms and conditions discussed last week. If a deal can be salvaged, it will have to be radically restructured in the club's favour."

Lennon's hopes of landing Hooper are also up in the air after former Celtic boss Gordon Strachan made a late bid to lure the 21-year-old to the Riverside.

Sources on Teesside claim the prolific striker held talks with Boro yesterday and is close to snubbing Celtic.

Feel so sorry for the poor fella