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Sunderland are set to make a £5million move for Celtic midfield man Nir Bitton.

The Black Cats secured their English Premier League status with Wednesday night’s 0-0 draw at Arsenal, and the Israeli international is at the top of their shopping list.

Bitton has been one of Celtic’s top performers this season and has dovetailed brilliantly with skipper Scott Brown in midfield.

He agreed a four-year deal at Parkhead in the summer of 2013, signing for £700,000 from Israeli club FC Ashdod.

Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat is expected to make a decision on his own future soon but, whether he stays or goes, the club still want Bitton.

A club insider said: “Nir Bitton’s display against Inter Milan in the Europa League brought him to our attention. We’ve been impressed with his performances in the Scottish Premiership.”

Meanwhile, Ajax look certain to hijack Celtic’s move for Dutch Under-21 defender Mitchell Dijks – and snap him up for half the price into the bargain.

Celtic have been linked with Willem II left-back Dijks, who is available for £1m.

Feyenoord held talks with him but Ajax moved into pole position after boss Frank de Boer met the player yesterday.

Dijks was at Ajax until last year when they let him to go to the Tilburg club. But they inserted a 50 per cent sell-on clause, which means they would effectively only be paying half the transfer fee for their former player.

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