CELTIC are reported to be eyeing up a shock move for Brescia's Libyan international midfielder Ahmad Benali.

 

The Italian Serie B side are on the verge of bankruptcy and haven't paid their players for months.

Benali - a former Manchester City youth player - is the key performer for the Lombardy club, but is out of contract at the end of the season and will be allowed to leave immediately.

And Celtic have spied on the 22-year-old playmaker, who is also attracting interest from Serie A sides Sassuolo and Torino.

Benali represented England youth sides when he was a kid, but opted to play international football for Libya and has two caps.

He had a loan spell at Rochdale, before moving to Italy to Brescia, who are desperately trying to keep afloat.

Benali has admitted he would love a crack at British football again. He said: "I am aware of the interest from some Serie A and British clubs in me.

"It is flattering, of course, but I am just focusing on doing my best for Brescia, and I will leave the interest from other clubs with my agent to deal with."