Celtic have launched a bid to sign Inverness Caley Thistle youngster Ryan Christie.

The Parkhead side have offered £500,000 for the 20-year-old who has also been linked with a move to the English Premier League.

The deal would allow Inverness-born Christie to spend the rest of the season on loan at Caley Thistle but the Highland club are yet to respond to the offer.

English Premier League side Swansea have been monitoring Christie’s progress and are believed to be one of two other clubs who have registered an interest in signing the creative midfielder.

Throughout the summer Christie has been linked with a move away from the Highland capital but earlier this week, he said he would not allow the speculation to affect his performances, he said: “I feel I’ve learned from last season. It maybe got into my head then, without anything coming of it, so I know now until I get something concrete in front of me, it’s all just probably talk.

“I get friends texting and asking about it and I just have to tell them they know as much as I do.

“Right now, it’s about focusing on the games. It’s nice to hear the talk, but until I hear something concrete I don’t let it affect me.

“Maybe last season I took a dip in form around about January. I let it get to me a bit.

“But experience is important and this is my second season. I’ve learned to put it to the back of my mind.”

More to follow.