Flood closes in on Celtic switch

Willo Flood moved a step closer to joining Celtic after the 23-year-old underwent a medical at Celtic Park yesterday.

The Cardiff City midfielder, on loan at Dundee United, is expected to finally seal his switch to the Scottish Premier League champions following contract talks with Hoops chief executive Peter Lawwell this afternoon.

Flood travelled to Glasgow yesterday after Celtic agreed a deal with the Championship side, foiling Dundee United‘s attempts to keep the player at Tannadice.

The Republic of Ireland B international, who missed the crucial penalty against his future employers in Wednesday’s Co-operative Insurance Cup semi-final, has been outstanding for United over the past 18 months and Celtic boss Gordon Strachan sees him as a potential replacement for Shunsuke Nakamura, tipped to return to Japan at the end of the season.

Flood, a lifelong Celtic fan, criticised the Hoops for dragging out his proposed transfer in the wake of United’s heartbreaking defeat at Hampden Park but now insists he is thrilled that the end of the saga is seemingly in sight.

“I’m delighted the situation has moved on a bit because there was a lot of uncertainty this week,” he said.

“I’ve had the medical and we’re just waiting on the results. So I’ll be going back to Glasgow on Friday afternoon to speak to the club.

“My agent has been speaking with Peter Lawwell and there are a few things still to sort out. If it goes through it will be a great opportunity.

“United have really made me feel at home there – the manager, players and fans at Tannadice have been great – so it would be a wrench to leave.

“I’ll be sad but it will be the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.”