Source: Daily_Mail
Celtic move for Aston Villa defender Curtis Davies scuppered by FIFA red tape
[LNB]Ruled out: Aston Villa defender Curtis Davies' loan spell at Leicester has foiled his chances of a move to Celtic[LNB]Celic will step up efforts to bringin a new defender this week afterlearning FIFA red tape will scupperefforts to secure Aston Villa defenderCurtis Davies on loan. [LNB]Parkhead manager Neil Lennon isdesperate for a new centre-half beforeWednesday night's SPL clash with Heartsafter Swede Daniel Majstorovic limped outof Saturday's 1-0 win over Aberdeen. [LNB]Sportsmail understands that Davies wasplaced on standby for a flight to Glasgowover the weekend. [LNB]That move is doomed to fail, however, because of FIFAArticle 5:3, which rules that aplayer cannot make a crossbordertransfer and play for athird club in a single season.[LNB]It is the second time in a matterof days that Celtic have fallen foulof the rule after having to endtheir interest in Everton's JamesVaughan for similar reasons. [LNB]Davies made two appearancesfor Aston Villa against RapidVienna and Blackburn at thestart of the campaign beforegoing on an 'emergency loan'to Leicester City where hemade 12 appearances. [LNB]The English FA's insistence thatsuch loans don't count on aplayer's registration record forthe season has been challengedby FIFA and the world governingbody are keen to close the Englishloophole while the SFA insist onfollowing the letter of the law. [LNB]Celtic will now again try topersuade Nottingham Forest tosell pre-contract signing KelvinWilson in this transfer window,although all previous requestshave so far been rejected.Stoke City's Abdoulaye Fayeremains another loan target. [LNB]Majstorovic has been sidelinedafter he suffered a hamstringproblem against the Dons. GlennLoovens is not yet fit while JosHooiveld was allowed to join FCCopenhagen last week leaving Celtic short of cover. [LNB]'We've been looking tostrengthen in that area withHooiveld leaving and Loovensout,' admitted Lennon.[LNB] Target: Nottingham Forest star Kelvin Wilson[LNB]'I'dimagine Daniel will struggle forWednesday so we'll be lookingto bring a player in. We'll haveto speed things up now.' [LNB]Lennon also remains in themarket for a striker in theaftermath of the collapse of amove for 22-year-old Vaughan. [LNB]Levski Sofia have received aCeltic loan bid for 24-year-oldstriker Garra Dembele, a Franco-Malian with 26 goals this season. [LNB]Aware of what Lennon dubbedthe striker's 'baggage', theParkhead club are reluctant toshell out £2.5million immediately. [LNB][LNB]With Hoffenheim, West Ham andEverton also interested, however,Levski want a permanenttransfer and are reluctant tocountenance a loan deal.Hearts, meantime, travel toParkhead on a high afterbeating Rangers and goal heroRyan Stevenson last night warnedCeltic that his side want tocomplete an Old Firm double. [LNB]'Wednesday is massive for us,'Stevenson said. [LNB]'Therewas a lotof hype surrounding Saturday'smatch and the fact we're nowmounting a challenge butwe've shown we can handle that.[LNB]'We'll now go to Parkheadfeeling confident. We feel wecan beat anyone.'[LNB] Celtic 1 Aberdeen 0: Stokes strike sends Bhoys five points clearNewcastle look to rescue unsettled star Ireland from Aston Villa nightmareKapo leaves Celtic after manager Lennon cancels midfielder's contract[LNB] Explore more:Places: Aberdeen
