Southampton are confident signing Celtic midfielder Ryan Christie.

The Sun says the Scotland attacking midfielder, 26, is out of contract at the end of the year and available for a low price before this window shuts.

Christie could sign a pre-contract with one of his suitors now and go in January, but pals say he does not want to risk being sidelined by Celtic.

Southampton are also trying to agree a deal with Dundee United for highly -rated defender Kerr Smith, 16, who has been chased by a raft of Premier League clubs.

Christie joined Celtic in 2015 following an impressive two-year spell at Inverness.