Aston Villa appear to have won the race for Fleetwood Town defender and reported Celtic target Josh Feeney, according to Birmingham Live.

Feeney, England’s Under-16 captain, has been a man in demand in recent months.

Celtic, along with Villa, Leeds United Leicester City and Wolves were all credited with an interest in the centre-back last month.

Feeney, who stands at 6 foot 3, is yet to make a senior appearance for Fleetwood but appears to be on the move this summer.

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The Latest: Villa visit

According to Birmingham Live, Villa is Feeney’s preferred destination despite being poised to move to Manchester United.

He visited Villa’s Bodymoor Heath training facility on Thursday which left Feeney’s representatives impressed.

It now seems as if a move to the Midlands is on the cards ahead of an Old Trafford switch.

The Verdict: Could have been a Hjelde replacement?

Leeds United have been linked with a move for Hoops teenager Leo Hjelde in recent days, so Feeney could well have been an ideal replacement for the Norwegian.

Hjelde, who has 12 months remaining on his Parkhead deal, was tipped as ‘the next Virgil van Dijk’ by former Ross County manager John Hughes last season.

It seems as if Celtic could lose him, so adding Feeney may have been perfect - the amount of interest the Englishman has attracted suggests he too is quite the prospect.

It doesn’t look as if a move to Scotland will materialise, though, and Aston Villa may well have got themselves a future star in Feeney.

In other news: Hoops keen on international winger, find out more here.