Celtic agree fee for Hibernian striker
Celtic today have agreed a fee with fellow Scottish Premier League club Hibernian over the transfer of striker Anthony Stokes.
Hoops boss Neil Lennon revealed last week that he was keen to recruit the 22-year-old Irishman, after selling Marc-Antoine Fortune to English Premier League outfit West Bromwich Albion.
Celtic saw a bid of around £800,000 reportedly rejected by Hibs chairman Rod Petrie, but the clubs have now agreed a fee believed to be around £1.2m.
Stokes’ transfer to the SPL giants will be subject to agreeing personal terms and passing a medical exam.
'Desperate' to join Hoops
Meanswhile, Hibs manager John Hughes revealed today that the player is desperate to make the switch from Edinburgh to Glasgow before the transfer window closes tomorrow.
Hughes revealed that there was a real possibility Stokes could be off to Celtic. He told reporters that: “The vibes I’m getting from him coming into to see me, from speaking to him and from his body language, I just feel his mind is made up. I can possibly understand it, and if it does happen – although it is not a done and dusted deal as everyone seems to think – we’ll wish him all the best and thank him for what he has done for us.”
With their top scorer of last season ready to move on, Hibs have quickly found themselves with a replacement after bringing in Darryl Duffy on a season-long loan from Football League Championship outfit Bristol Rovers.
Stokes started his career with Arsenal and came through the youth ranks there. After failing to make an impression at first-team level, he was farmed out on loan to Falkirk where he was a huge success. He later moved to Sunderland but did not manage to hold down a starting place. He joined Hibs last summer and was a big hit at Easter Road as he scored 23 goals in total last season.
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