According to reports in today's press, Celtic boss Neil Lennon is ready to sign Coventry’s Ireland keeper Keiren Westwood in a free transfer swoop.
Lennon wants Westwood to join his top SPL outfit in the summer but may try and tie him to a pre-contract shortly if he can sort out personal terms with the highly-rated Irish shot-stopper.
Westwood has refused to sign a new deal with the Sky Blues and is the number one choice of Lennon.
Celtic were also keen on Ireland and Manchester City keeper Shay Given on loan but that deal will be too expensive while Westwood can be signed on a free at the end of his contract.
Westwood cut his teeth at Newcastle and starred for Carlisle before establishing himself as a top keeper with Coventry - but the time is now eight for him to move on to bigger things.
Everton and a number of other Premiership clubs are also keeping an eye on Westwood
Giovanni Trapattoni's goalkeeping problems for the upcoming European Championship qualifier against Macedonia later this month continue to mount with news that Keiren Westwood failed to return for the second half as his Coventry side went down to a 4-1 home defeat to Bristol City at the Ricoh Arena.
Manchester City keeper Shay Given is already out of the crucial qualifier after undergoing surgery on a shoulder injury.
Early reports from the Ricoh Arena suggest Westwood could be out of contention for six weeks.
Ireland international goalkeeper Shay Given will find out this week if he needs to go under the surgeons knife after the Man City goalkeeper sustained a shoulder injury in training.
Man City manager Roberto Mancini revealed "He has a shoulder problem and next week he will go to the doctor in London to see if he needs surgery,"
Should The Donegal born keeper require surgery he would be certain to miss Ireland's crucial European Championship qualifier with Macedonia in Dublin next month and would a major blow to Giovanni Trapattoni's preparations for the game.
Sought after Coventry City goalkeeper Keiren Westwood would deputise in the event of a lengthy lay-off for Given.
Celtic, Wigan and Everton all showed a keen interest in the keeper during the Winter transfer window and Westwood will be a free agent in the summer.
QPR boss Neil Warnock has praised Keiren Westwood - and says the Coventry City star is a better goalkeeper than many of the Premier League shot-stoppers.
The Ireland international had a superb game as the Sky Blues lost a tight game to Warnock's side at Loftus Road yesterday.
And Warnock believes the Irish goal stopper is already better than many keepers in the top flight.
He told Talk Sport: "Westwood was excellent today. I put him head and shoulders above many keepers in the Premier League."
Westwood made his first international appearance for Ireland in a friendly against Nigeria in May 2009 as is tipped as the natural replacement for Shay Given, when his international career comes to an end.
Westwood has been the focus of recent transfer speculation with a number of Premiership clubs keeping tabs on the progress of the 26 year old.
Ireland Manager Giovanni Trapattoni will field an experienced Ireland side in tonight’s friendly against Paraguay despite a number of withdrawals.
Shay Given, Richard Dunne, Aiden McGeady and Kevin Kilbane are missing but Robbie Keane, Damien Duff, John O'Shea and Kevin Doyle will all start.
Regulars Glenn Whelan, Keith Andrews, Sean St Ledger are also included as is Fulham defender Stephen Kelly.
With Given missing, Coventry keeper Keiren Westwood will start in goal. The twenty-five-year-old will win his fourth cap as he deputises for the injured Given and has been praised by boss Giovanni Trapattoni.
Trapattoni said: “Westwood is a goalkeeper with a great personality. Physically, he is fantastic.
“He has personality and a presence that I like very much, and I don’t think he will be fazed by the game.”
Wolves striker Doyle missed training on Sunday because of a sore throat but has been passed fit to play.
Tuesday's game and Friday's contest at the RDS against Algeria will be part of the squad's preparations for the European Championship qualifiers which start in early September with the away trip to Armenia.
