Naylor moves closer to Celtic deal

Celtic are closing in on Wolves defender Lee Naylor but their bid to land PSV Eindhoven striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink remains in the balance.

The Bank of Scotland Premier League champions have agreed a fee with the Dutch outfit, in the region of £5m (€7.4m), but he is not happy with the terms offered.

But while supporters will be anxious another player could slip through the net, Wolves manager Mick McCarthy is resigned to losing his long-serving full-back.

Molineux’s chief executive Jez Moxey asked for a fee of £600,000 (€884,520) plus a Parkhead player in exchange.

But McCarthy said: “I think we are at a stage where we have got a deal that’s acceptable.

“I’ve said all along that Lee leaving is not what I wanted to happen but with the player out of contract at the end of the season it’s probably good business sense.”

Former Celtic defender McCarthy will also give the 26-year-old his blessing.

“It’s probably good team sense as well,” he told the club’s website. Www.wolves.co.uk.

“When you’ve got a player who has done great for the club, if someone comes in for him and he gets that opportunity, I fully understand his desire to move on to fresh pastures.

“He’s had a good innings here and done well for the club so I’ve no problem with that and, as we proved on Saturday, if somebody leaves then someone else comes in and plays.”

Vennegoor of Hesselink is manager Gordon Strachan’s main target, although the Celtic board will have to increase their wage offer to land the 27-year-old Dutch international.

The player is reported to want a £1m (€1.5m) signing on fee as well as £30,000 (€44,215) a week in wages.

Celtic would be unwilling to succumb to those demands even though the board are ready to let Stilian Petrov get his dream move to the Barclays Premiership.

The Bulgaria international is wanted by Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill and Portsmouth counterpart Harry Redknapp but the former Celtic boss is favourite to get his man.

Both clubs are expected to up the ante before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.