CELTIC have told USA midfielder Darlington Nagbe his January move to Parkhead is now OFF.

Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers wanted to sign the Portland Timbers star in a £3million deal.

3 Celtic pull plug on move for Portland Timbers star Credit: Getty Images

But SunSport can reveal the Premiership champions have informed Nagbe they’re walking away from talks.

The 26-year-old had visited Parkhead for the Champions League clash with Barcelona and was given the VIP treatment.

He was TOP of Rodgers’ wish-list and the MLS ace was expected to seal his move early in the New Year as negotiations have been progressing in the last few weeks over a £10,000-a-week contract.

But Parkhead sources have revealed that transfer talks have now dramatically collapsed at the eleventh hour.

Celts have already made it clear to Timbers’ chiefs that they’re looking at alternative targets.

And it’s highly unlikely they’ll return to the table and do a deal to land the ten-times capped USA international.

It’s believed boss Rodgers has TWO other possibilities as he looks to strengthen his side next month.

Deals for those players are the ones he will look to progress ahead of the January transfer window opening.

The collapse of the Nagbe deal is something he’s prepared for with the Hoops boss still confident he could add to his squad before they jet out to Dubai for training camp on January 6.

John Spencer, meanwhile, says Celtic have missed out on the best American player in the MLS.

3 The midfielder had been top of Brendan Rodgers' wish-list Credit: Reuters

Former Rangers and Chelsea star Spenny signed Nagbe for Portland in 2011.

And he said: “I’d heard all about Celtic being interested in him and it didn’t surprise me in the slightest. At this moment I’d say he’s one of the best players in the entire MLS and certainly the best American.

“The fee was small for someone of that quality. Celtic aren’t going to get anyone better anywhere in the world for that money.

“When he was over in Glasgow to see the Barcelona game last month he sent me a text to say he was in my hometown and that Celtic were interested.

“That’s the kind of thing that’s typical of him. As a player he’s great but he’s also one of the nicest kids I’ve come across in the game.

“I’d seen him playing for the University of Akron in the drafts and for me he was the best young player in the country at the time by a mile.

“We were an expansion club along with Vancouver so we got the first picks in the draft and I was delighted to land Darlington.

“To tell you the truth, I identified him from the start and he was the ONLY one I wanted out of the draft that year.

3 Nagbe was at the Barcelona game Credit: PA:Press Association

“We had real high hopes for him from the start and he soon justified it.

“His technical ability is outstanding. There are plenty of players who can see a pass but he can see a pass and has the ability to make it as well.

“He’s also lightning quick, either without the ball or dribbling with it.

“Overall, in terms of guys playing in the final third, there aren’t many better on American soil.”

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