Join thousands of fans who have signed up to our Celtic newsletter. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

CELTIC are poised to lure Johnny Russell to Parkhead after Dundee United confirmed the striker will leave this summer.

Neil Lennon tried to sign the hitman for £500,000 last January and after United rejected a bid from Derby yesterday the Celtic boss is ready to step up his interest in the talented 23-year-old again.

Russell has one year left on his deal and United know they must cash in on their star striker to prevent the player moving on for nothing in 12 months.

The Arabs have knocked back recent offers from Serie A outfit Catania and their declaration Russell will be sold will only increase interest with Reading also ready to make a move.

Lennon faces the prospect of losing top scorer Gary Hooper during the transfer window and Russell is seen as an ideal replacement for the Englishman.

United chairman Stephen Thompson has now admitted Russell, who banged in 20 goals last season, will be sold to boost the finances of the Tannadice club.

He said: “Johnny won’t renew or extend his contract. We’ve been told that by his agent.

“So it’s a situation where we’ve got to look after and protect the club which means we should be selling him in the summer.

“An English club has made a bid. It’s not quite what we’d like and others have spoken to us. We've decided to keep things private and not name clubs.

“One did come out a number of weeks ago, which was from Italy, and we turned that down.”

United have already lost one striker this summer, with long-serving captain Jon Daly joining Rangers.

Meanwhile, full-back Barry Douglas has completed his summer switch to Polish cracks Lech Poznan.

Douglas has agreed a two-year contract at the top-flight club, with an option of extending that by another year.

Despite Tannadice boss Jackie McNamara attempting to keep the defender the 23-year-old has opted to become the first Scot to star in Polish football.

The former Queen’s Park player has agreed a lucrative contract and the lure of being involved in Europe next season with Poznan proved too strong to resist.

Douglas said: “I’m over the moon.

“It was a no-brainer really. We’re looking forward to being in Europe and that was a massive factor in me coming here.

“It’s an up-and-coming club and I’m sure it’s exactly the right move for me at this stage in my career.

“I’ve never been through anything like it in my life the way they conducted the medical but it’s all worthwhile in the end.

“It’s a big move and one I’m really excited about in every aspect.

“From playing a new style of football to living abroad for the first time – it just ticked all the right boxes.”

Douglas signed for United from the Spiders in 2010 and was a first-team regular this season at Tannadice.

And the left-back said: “I’ve got nothing but thanks for Dundee United. They were great for me and I’m leaving behind really good friends.

“I’ll be the first Scottish player ever to play in Poland so hopefully I can give a good account of myself.”

RELATED STORIES: