Celtic are set to move on defender Gustaf Lagerbielke this January window with Italian outfit Lecce "close" to striking a loan deal.

The Serie A outfit have monitored the centre-back throughout the transfer window and are keen to seal a switch before the end of the month.

Sky Sports now report that a loan deal is "close" with an exclusive option to buy also being included in negotiations.

The 23-year-old has struggled for game time under Brendan Rodgers since his summer switch from Elfsborg.

He is currently behind Cameron Carter-Vickers, Liam Scales, Stephen Welsh and Maik Nawrocki in the pecking order. 

Meanwhile, Rodgers retains hope the club can sign a player who can make a difference to his team as the transfer deadline approaches.

The Premiership leaders’ sole January signing, Nicolas Kuhn, made his debut off the bench during a 1-0 win over Ross County on Saturday.

Rodgers has been looking for quality rather than quantity after the club went largely for young and inexperienced additions in the summer, most of whom have struggled to break into the first team.

Rodgers said: “There are numbers of areas we’re looking at. I can only concentrate on the players I have here now. But certainly there are areas we are looking to improve on.

“Hopefully there’s movement, that’s the plan. Getting that player in who can help our level and allow us to develop. We will see over the coming days, but hopefully that’s the case.”