Celtic prepare James McCarthy move

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers is prepared to lodge a loan approach for Everton midfielder James McCarthy. The Irishman is weighing up his options with manager Ronald Koeman option to choose Gareth Barry and Idrissa Gueye for the central midfield role.

McCarthy, 25, has been a key performer at Goodison Park since his switch from Championship side Wigan Athletic in 2013.

However, with the appointment of Koeman, his future has come into question, with new signing Gueye favoured ahead of him for a starting place.

According to The Mail, Scottish champions Celtic are eyeing a temporary deal for the Republic of Ireland international as Rodgers attempts to bolster his side for the Champions League.

The Hoops returned to the elite competition after a three-year absence when they trumped Israeli side Hapoel Tel Aviv by a 5-4 aggregate scoreline in the play-offs.

McCarthy has appeared in over 100 games for the Merseyside outfit till date.