Soccer:Celtic have opened discussions with Manchester City and Craig Bellamy over a loan switch for the out-of-favour striker with Sunderland also interested in the Welsh striker.
Bellamy was yesterday left out of City's squad for their Europa League qualifier against Timisoara despite there being room for two more players in the pool.
Celtic manager Neil Lennon today confirmed the club had approached City with a view to taking Bellamy back to Parkhead.
Bellamy's exclusion has fuelled expectations that he will not be named in the club's 25-man squad for their Premier League campaign.
The player, who spent several months on loan with Celtic in 2005, is eager to leave should that be the case and Lennon hopes City will be keen to do business with him rather than their top-flight rivals in England.
Lennon said: "When you see someone of the calibre of Craig and the fact that he's not in the 25 and he's looking to go out and play football, then we feel it's something that we can't try and miss out on.
"We've been speaking to his representatives and we've been speaking to Man City.
Bellamy's potential arrival at Celtic would compensate for the imminent departure of Aiden McGeady, who is set to join Spartak Moscow.
Lennon said of the reported €11.5million deal: "We're hoping it's going to get over the line today or tomorrow.
"He was having a medical with Moscow. I'm sure that will be fine - hopefully it will be done this week."
Lennon, who confirmed Gary Hooper would miss the Premier League opener at Inverness, added: "We're working very hard behind the scenes to bring in players in the positions we want."
With regards Bellamy Sunderland boss Steve Bruce said: "There's a lot of clubs who would love Craig Bellamy. He's a fantastic player but whether it's possible, I'm not quite sure.
"I've been a big admirer of Craig's for a long, long time. If he's available, which it looks like he is, and if we could afford him, then I would love to bring Craig to the football club."
Bruce hopes to complete the signing of Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck on a season-long loan later today.
The 19-year-old has been linked with the Black Cats for much of the summer and, following the sale of Kenwyne Jones to Stoke yesterday, United boss Alex Ferguson has allowed Welbeck to travel to the Stadium of Light.
Bruce said: "We're very close to bringing in young Danny Welbeck from Manchester United. He's a young man but he'll fit into our squad fantastically well.
"We've got him here this morning. It looks like the formalities are done as long as he comes through the medical and we hope to announce him later on today."