Celtic expect to learn next week if Lee Congerton will become the club's new head of player recruitment.

A former Sporting Director at Hamburg and Sunderland, Congerton has also received a lucrative offer from China.

Known to Brendan Rodgers from his time as Chief Scout at Chelsea, however, the Welshman has been identified as the best man to replace John Park after his 10-year stint as Football Development Manager ended in October.

Lee Congerton (right) is expected to join Celtic as the club's head of player recruitment

Sportsmail understands Paul Mitchell, interviewed for the job of Director of Football at Rangers, was amongst the candidates placed under consideration by Celtic chiefs with Huddersfield's Stuart Webber.

Head of scouting when Brendan Rodgers was Stamford Bridge reserve team manager, however, Congerton emerged as the strongest candidate.

The 42-year-old followed Frank Arsesen from Chelsea to Hamburg in 2011, accepting an offer to become technical director.

Returning to England to take up a post as director of football at Sunderland, Congeron kept in touch with Rodgers.

Known to the Celtic hierachy after negotiating the transfer of Adam Matthews to Sunderland, Celtic are cautiously hopeful of warding off the interest from China to receive a positive response from their top target.