Celtic make swoop for Middlesbrough midfielder George Boateng

Jul 6 2008 By Scott Mcdermott

CELTIC are hoping to tie up a deal for Middlesbrough's George Boateng within the next 48 hours.

Hoops boss Gordon Strachan wants to make the Dutchman his second signing of the summer after the capture of Paddy McCourt.

MailSport understands Boateng was at Celtic's Lennoxtown training ground on Thursday to meet Strachan who was his gaffer at Coventry 10 years ago.

The 32-year-old midfielder was then given a tour of Glasgow and shown houses he could live in if he makes the switch to Scotland.

Strachan originally plucked Boateng from Feyenoord in 1998 after he was scouted for Coventry by Celtic's current Euro spy Ray Clarke.

Boateng is wanted by other clubs including Premiership new boys Hull City, who have agreed a settlement fee with Boro for the rest of his contract, and Sunderland.

The player was stripped of the captaincy last term by Gareth Southgate and would cost under s500,000 as he's in the last year of his deal.

He also has the option of going back to Holland to work with another old gaffer Steve McClaren at FC Twente in Enschede.

But the lure of teaming up with Strachan, as well as Champions League football, should see him become a Celtic player this week.

Meanwhile, Georgios Samaras has shot down claims he has already signed for Celtic. Reports in Greece suggested the Manchester City striker - on loan at Parkhead last season - had agreed a s3million move.

But Samaras said: "I'm still speaking to the club and they are my first option but I haven't signed yet."