CELTIC spies have been monitoring Nantes' Senegalese centre-half Papy Djilobodji in recent months .

 

The 6ft 4in defender still has 14 months of his contract to run, but the French outfit could be willing to part with the 26-year-old in the summer.

However, the talented back-four operator may be out of the Hoops' price range with his club likely to demand a transfer fee in the region of £4million.

Chelsea, Arsenal, Sunderland, Newcastle and Borussia Dortmund have all been linked with the two-times capped international this season.

Papy has been at Nantes since January 2010 and has played over 140 games for the club.

Ronny Deila knows he will need to strengthen the champions' central defence if, as expected, Jason Denayer returns to Manchester City when his loan deal expires in the summer.

The Celtic boss has also admitted that former Rangers defender Danny Wilson, Hearts' Championship-winning captain, is on his radar.