Celtic target Wigan’s Shaun Maloney

Shaun Maloney scores for Scotland against Ireland. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

The Scotland international looks set to leave Wigan having entered the last six months of his contract without signing a new deal.

Leicester are also interested in signing the 31-year-old who would cost around £1m.

Speaking from Celtic’s winter training camp in Gran Canaria, Deila told the Scottish Sun;

“I’m aware of all the Scottish players and Maloney is a good player.

“I have seen him many times. He is a quick creative player and is a very good person with a great mentality. He looks like a Celtic player.”

The Parkhead manager said he would look closer to home when adding to his squad during the January transfer window.

He said: “I’d choose to bring in Scottish and English players, especially in this window, as they need to make a difference straight away.

“British players know what the Scottish game is all about.

“If I was to bring in a Norwegian player they’d have to be very strong.

“It’s difficult to say if they are good enough, so I would be anxious about bringing one in.

“It’s something we saw with Jo Inge Berget - it is safer to bring in home players.”

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