Juninho set for Celtic switch

Celtic are expected to parade Juninho as their new signing at Parkhead tomorrow after the Brazil World Cup star came to an agreement with Middlesbrough over his pay-off.

The 31-year-old is on the verge of becoming one of manager Martin O’Neill’s - and the club’s – best-ever transfer coups.

The talented playmaker also looks like putting his name to a contract in time to make his debut against Rangers on Sunday with the club being hit by injury problems.

His agent Jonathan Hassall said: “We’ve been told that Celtic are now handling the situation and everything else, but I believe that everything’s sorted now and I would have thought he’d be up tomorrow now.

“I can say that it’s all sorted anyway now at the Middlesbrough end and he’s looking forward to getting up there.”

A sceptical O’Neill and the supporters have refused to celebrate the signing so far but they will now be looking ahead to seeing the Brazilian grace Parkhead this season.

The Celtic boss has been looking for a big-name playmaker since Lubo Moravcik’s departure and Juninho is also set to help ease the pain of Henrik Larsson’s move to Barcelona.

O’Neill, who pledged to target players at the top end of the transfer market and work down, refused to give up on his pursuit of the Juninho despite the player initially saying he wanted to fight for his place at the Riverside.

But he soon realised after the start of the season he was not part of Middlesbrough manager Steve McLaren’s plans and found the lure of the Champions League too tempting to turn his back on.

He is now in line for a baptism of fire against Rangers at Parkhead on Sunday with O’Neill being hit by an injury to influential frontman Chris Sutton.