Gustaf Lagerbielke has opened up on a potential switch to Celtic.

It seems the 23-year-old has played his final game for Elfsborg in his native Sweden.

The Hoops have been in talks with the defender over a move to Parkhead, as Brendan Rodgers looks to replace Carl Starfelt.

A deal worth £3million is believed to be close, and the Hoops boss himself, without namedropping Lagerbielke, did reveal after his side's win over Aberdeen that another transfer was close to completion.

Maik Nawrocki has already been signed to bolster Celtic's backline this summer, but after Starfelt's exit for Celta Vigo, Rodgers has moved to add another option.

Cameron Carter-Vickers picked up a hamstring injury against the Dons on Sunday, so Stephen Welsh came in to play at the heart of defence alongside Nawrocki.

Lagerbielke could be the next to play in that position for the Scottish champions.

And after his side's 1-0 loss to Hammarby yesterday, the defender was quizzed on Celtic's interest.

Asked if it would be a step up, he told a Swedish TV channel: “Very much. A fun challenge to come to a big club in Europe and play the Champions League and hopefully win titles. So that would be fun.

“It is a very big club with a good Swedish connection with Henrik Larsson, Starfelt, Lustig, and Mjällby among others. They play the Champions League every year and win titles.”

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Meanwhile, Celtic captain Callum McGregor has praised Stephen Welsh after his performance in the recent 3-1 win against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

The defender was introduced at half-time in the fixture after Cameron Carter-Vickers suffered a hamstring injury.

It was Welsh's first competitive appearance for the Scottish champions since before the World Cup break last season.

And McGregor was impressed with his contribution.

He said: "I thought he was outstanding when he came on. He really calmed the game. He saw the pictures and could see the passes and that settled us and got us playing into our rhythm.

"I think Stephen has been outstanding, especially as an academy product. It is always difficult. You come in, you play well, you drop out of the team, you come back, and you drop out of the team again.

"You have to be resilient, especially as an academy player. It is always easy for the club to go and buy players and it is a real challenge for the home-grown ones.

"But Welshy’s attitude has been outstanding and his quality is getting better. He is growing in stature. He is a player who can be really important for us as well."

Watch Tony Haggerty and Aidan Macdonald discuss all this and more in the video below.