Reported Celtic target Patrick Berg is now set to join Lens instead, according to reliable reporter Fabrizio Romano.

The Hoops have been working away ahead of the January transfer window, with up to four possible permanent signings in the New Year.

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Reo Hatate, Yosuke Ideguchi and Daizen Maeda could make the move to Parkhead, whereas on-loan winger Jota could end up completing a full-time switch.

Celtic were after Berg in the summer and were once again linked with the Bodo/Glimt man in recent weeks, but it seems as if they won’t be securing the 24-year-old’s services.

The Latest: Lens move

Romano took to Twitter on Friday morning to provide an update on Berg’s future.

The transfer expert said that Berg will sign his contract with Lens ‘in the next few hours’, before name-checking the Hoops as a linked party in a second post.

The Verdict: Big news…

Not only is this big news in regards to Celtic’s transfer plans, but it may also have a major impact on Ange Postecoglou’s Europa League Conference opponents.

Berg, labelled as 'great' by The Celtic Analysis in the summer, has been a regular for the Norwegian side in recent years, so they could now lose a key man in their captain ahead of the two-legged tie with Celtic in 2022.

You could say the update is bittersweet for Postecoglou, but it looks as if he will bring midfield additions to the club in Hatate and Ideguchi.

In other news: 'Could be a long time' - Devlin shares worrying injury update on Celtic ace after bone 'break'.