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By Chris McLaughlin
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Celtic have made a bid of £1.5m for Stoke City midfielder Liam Lawrence.
The English Premier League club are willing to do business but are looking for around £2m for the 28-year-old Republic of Ireland winger.
But he could become Neil Lennon's first signing as Celtic manager, the Northern Irishman expected to be confirmed in the position within 48 hours.
Lawrence, who joined Stoke in 2006, found himself in and out of the side in the season just passed.
Lennon appears to have made strengthening his midfield one of his priorities and Celtic remain favourites to sign the out-of-contract Wales international Joe Ledley from Cardiff City.
Ledley, who is also interesting Rangers, Everton, West Ham United, Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic, visited Celtic's training ground on Monday but is to travel to meet officials of Italian Serie A outfit Roma early next week as he considers his options.
Celtic last month missed out on the signing of Republic of Ireland midfielder Steven Reid, who opted to join West Brom after being released by Blackburn.
The Nottinghamshire-born Lawrence, who has said he would be interested in signing for Premier League rivals Wolves, began his career with Mansfield Town before a three-year spell with Sunderland.
He had initially joined the Potters on loan from Sunderland, where he played under present Wolves manager Mick McCarthy, and the move was made permanent for a fee of £500,000 in January 2007.
Lawrence became a first-team regular under Tony Pulis and signed a new contract last year that tied him to the club until 2013.
However, only 14 of his 33 appearances this season came as part of the starting line-up and he has said that he needs to move to play more regularly.
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