Olivier Kapo linked with move to Parkhead

Celtic are understood to be closing in on a deal for former Birmingham and Wigan winger Olivier Kapo.

The former France international is a free agent and can sign for a club outside the transfer window.

Kapo began his career with Auxerre before moving to Juventus in 2004, but he struggled to hold down a regular place and had loan spells at Monaco and Levante.

Kapo, who won the last of his nine international caps in 2004, signed for Birmingham in 2007 and followed manager Steve Bruce to Wigan a year later.

The Ivory Coast-born midfielder spent the second half of last season on loan at Boulogne but has been without a club since the summer.

Meanwhile, two Celtic teams were in action yesterday, with the development squad beating Dunfermline 2-1 at Lennoxtown thanks to goals from captain Richie Towell and trialist Adrian Ruelas. A Celtic under-19 team beat their Liverpool counterparts 3-1 at Parkhead in a pilot match for a proposed European tournament.

Celtic hope to launch the tournament for the start of next season to give their young players a taste of competing on the European stage.