Celtic are close to signing Partick Thistle youngster Hayden Borland, according to The Daily Record.

The Lowdown: Iwata in

Celtic announced the signing of Tomoki Iwata on Friday, with the midfielder becoming the club’s third winter window addition after Yuki Kobayashi and Alistair Johnston.

Iwata can play in a variety of midfield and defensive positions and will arrive on an initial loan deal, which will include an obligation to buy at the end of the season.

It doesn’t look as if the Hoops are stopping there, though, with a new forward seemingly on the agenda and a move also in the pipeline for Borland.

The Latest: Borland next?

The Daily Record said on their live transfer blog (12:30pm, 30th December) that the Hoops are closing in on Borland’s services.

The teenager has previously been on trial at Liverpool and Tottenham and the Hoops would need to pay compensation if Borland moves to Glasgow and eventually goes on to sign professional Parkhead terms.

The Verdict: Promising

Celtic chiefs have lost a number of talented youngsters in recent years, with Ben Doak a prime example after recently making his Premier League debut for Liverpool.

Therefore, it is good to see the club are active in the academy market as well as adding to their first-team ranks. Borland appears to be highly rated following interest from the Reds and Spurs, and hopefully, he’ll continue to develop at Lennoxtown and will eventually progress into the first team.