Hoops close to Loovens deal

Celtic are on the cusp of signing defender – and one-time Rangers target - Glenn Loovens after moving close to completing a deal with Championship side Cardiff for the player.

Rangers had been linked with Loovens as a possible replacement for Aston Villa recruit Carlos Cuellar but PA Sport understands the Dutchman is now set to clinch a move to the defending Clydesdale Bank Premier League champions.

The fee for Loovens is believes to be in the region of £2m to £2.5m, and providing Celtic close out the deal it would be a blow to a Gers side who have endured a torrid first week of the season.

If Celtic boss Gordon Strachan can complete the deal early today, the 24-year-old Loovens may even be an outside bet to face Dundee United in the league tomorrow.

United manager Craig Levein believes playing the champions is the ideal way for his players to recover from their Hamilton horror show.

The Tangerines got their season off to a terrible start when they slumped 3-1 to the Clydesdale Bank Premier League’s newest team, prompting Levein to slaughter his men in the aftermath.

With that in mind, it would seem the game has come at the worst possible time, but the United boss is confident it will prove otherwise.

Levein was furious at what he saw as frequent lapses in concentration against Accies but is backing his players to be in a much sharper mental state come Sunday.

He said: “In some ways, playing Celtic can be good for us at the moment.

“I think a game where we can refocus quickly is maybe what we need.

“Being aware of what we did on Monday night, we can’t risk going into this game with anything less than 100% concentration.

“Against Hamilton, our concentration levels were nowhere near good enough but I’m certain we’ll get a much better performance against Celtic.

“We pushed them quite close in our games last season and I’m confident that when we get settled and if people play to their potential, we can do the same again this year.”

Levein and his players sat through the DVD of Monday’s game and discussed where things went wrong.

But even though he described the performance as the worst during his time at the club, he has ruled out making wholesale changes.

United’s players have steadily improved over the last 18 months and will be given another chance, so any alterations to the playing staff will be for tactical reasons rather than as punishment.

Levein said: “We had a poor performance on Monday and if I was to throw out all the lads who didn’t play well then I’d be left with about four players from that starting XI.

“I don’t think it’s productive to make wholesale changes and although I’ll maybe make one or two, that will be because of who we are playing and the way I want us to set up.

“There are situations in a 38-game season where players don’t perform so I’m not one for overreacting.”

Danny Swanson is suspended tomorrow after being red-carded for the reserves, but striker Francisco Sandaza will be in the squad.