Celtic expect bidding war for Ki as Swansea open talks over £8m midfielder

Swansea City are in talks with Celtic over a bid to sign South Korean midfielder Ki Sung Yueng.

Armed with a £15million bounty after selling star player Joe Allen to Liverpool, Swans manager Michael Laudrup has identified Ki as a replacement after being scared off a move for Bolton’s Mark Davies by the £8m price tag and may be prepared to throw in Stephen Dobbie as a sweetener.

In demand: Celtic's Ki Sung Yueng (right) will hold talks with Swansea

However, Celtic sources say further offers for Ki are expected this week and have placed an offer of £5m from the Welsh club on ice in anticipation of a transfer bidding war.

Queens Park Rangers, Arsenal, Fulham, Liverpool and Atletico Madrid are also interested in Ki and a move to Wales may not suit him, while Celtic are unlikely to accept less than £8m for a player with 15 months remaining on his current contract.

Hoops boss Neil Lennon confirmed that talks over Ki's transfer are at 'an advanced stage', although he refused to confirm Swansea were the club involved.

Euro adventure: Neil Lennon checking in for his flight from Glasgow to Sweden

Speaking in Helsingborg ahead of the match with the Swedish champions on Tuesday night, the Hoops boss said: 'We are in advances discussions with a club at the minute and we are hoping the deal will go through.

'I am not at liberty to say (if it's Swansea) but there may be interest from other clubs as well.

'He is not here, we have given him a bit of extra time because he has a lot to think about.

'He has only 15 months left on his contract and we feel it is a good offer and good business on our side.

'It is unfortunate to lose a quality player but that has been our strategy at the club for the last two or three years, cultivate these players and eventually move them on if they want to go.'

Celtic assistant manager Johan Mjallby confirmed the midfielder wants to leave.

Off and running: Swansea thrashed Queens Park Rangers on Saturday

He said: 'He is keen to move on and the club is in discussion with another club so we have to wait and see what happens. I can't say who the clubs is.

'There have been a few clubs interested in him but I know for sure there has been one bid for him and I think maybe one or two other bids.

'He is a quality player but on the other hand he is keen to move on so the club needs to do something.