Transfer deadline day: Celtic sign Robbie Keane

CELTIC tonight pulled off arguably the biggest coup of the transfer window by signing Robbie Keane on loan from Tottenham until the end of the season.

Republic of Ireland striker Keane joins his boyhood idols after falling out of favour at White Hart Lane.

The 29-year-old is Tony Mowbray's eighth capture in the last month and is by far the most high profile.

So significant is the move, bookmakers immediately slashed the odds of Celtic overhauling Rangers' 10-point lead in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Speaking shortly before the transfer was confirmed, Spurs boss Harry Redknapp told Sky Sports News: "It's a good move. Robbie needs to play.

"He's too good a player not to be starting here regularly. He wants to play all the time.

"It's been difficult to guarantee Robbie a starting place at the moment.

"He's not a happy man when he's not playing regularly.

"But he loves his football; he's a great trainer, a great man about the place."

Redknapp believes Keane will relish the move, saying: "To go to Celtic is a dream come true for him.

"He's a big Celtic man and he'd like to go up to Celtic and play like Roy Keane did.

"The Irish lads, it's in their blood and they dream of playing for Celtic one day.

"This opportunity is one they want to take and we don't want to stand in his way, because we're strong in that position."

Keane, who has been linked with moves to the Hoops in the past, was tonight travelling to Glasgow and was set to be unveiled at an 11pm press conference at Celtic Park.

The forward will be the club's fourth signing of transfer deadline day, topping those of Diomansy Kamara, Edson Braafheid and Paul Slane.

The day also witnessed the ninth departure from the club since the turn of the year, with Scott McDonald joining Middlesbrough for an undisclosed fee.

Keane signed for Spurs in 2002, making almost 200 appearances and scoring 80 goals, before joining Liverpool for around 20million in July 2008.

However, he went on to make only 15 appearances for the Anfield side and rejoined Spurs in February 2009 for 12million, taking his cumulative transfer fees to more than 70million.

His previous clubs include Wolves, Coventry, Inter Milan and Leeds.