Stokes to seal dream move to Paradise

ANTHONY STOKES is expected to join Celtic from Hibernian today after the SPL rivals agreed a fee for the Republic of Ireland striker.

It is understood that the Bhoys are to part with around £1.2 million (€1.46 million) in order to bring the 22-year-old striker on board.

Hibs have agreed to let Stokes go as it has become clear that he has set his heart on a switch to Parkhead and have signed Darryl Duffy on loan from Bristol Rovers to take his place.

Former Arsenal trainee Stokes is now poised to complete a move before today’s 6pm deadline.

Stokes first made an impact in Scottish football with Falkirk during the first half of season 2006/07, when he was on loan from Arsenal.

A £2m move from the Gunners to Sunderland followed and the striker had further loan spells with Sheffield United and Crystal Palace before making a permanent move to Hibs last year on a free transfer. At Easter Road, Stokes was reunited with his former Bairns manager John Hughes and finished season 2009/10 with 23 goals, including two at Celtic Park.

Meanwhile Portsmouth manager Steve Cotterill has confirmed Irish defender Marc Wilson is on the verge of joining Stoke and is confident Dave Kitson and Liam Lawrence will move in the opposite direction.

Pompey have agreed a fee for Wilson with the Potters, believed to be around £2.5m. Pompey are hopeful of landing striker Kitson and Republic of Ireland winger Lawrence as part of the deal.

“The deal has been agreed with Stoke,’’ Cotterill said.

“Marc has more or less agreed terms up there and we are very close with getting one across the line but the other one still has a little way to travel.

“That is just down to logistics. We have spoken to one of them but the other one was a day later. It is harder for us to get two players across the line than it is for Stoke to get one.’’

Elsewhere midfielder Javier Mascherano last night wrapped up his switch to Barcelona from Liverpool after passing a medical. The Reds reluctantly accepted an £18m bid from the Catalan giants for Mascherano last week following months of speculation over his future.

“It’s a dream, it’s a great joy,’’ Mascherano said of his move. “It is a great club with great players and I will try adapt as quickly as I possibly can.’’

While Mascherano was completing his move to Barcelona, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was wrapping up his move from the Spanish giants to AC Milan, joining the Italian side on loan for the rest of the season.

Ibrahimovic has signed a four-year contract with the Italian team but that will not kick in until after the 2010-11 campaign, when Milan can complete the deal by paying (€24m).

“I have come here to win,” said Ibrahimovic. “I will not leave this team until we have won. I believe we are the strongest team in Italy and one of the strongest in the world.”