THE prospect of Celtic taking on Dundee in a league match in the United States next season has moved a step closer. Times Sport understands discussions are underway with a view to staging the SPFL Premiership fixture – a Dundee “home” game – at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. The 70,000-capacity stadium is the home of the American Football team the Philadelphia Eagles and is the frontrunner to host what would be the first ever Scottish league match to be played overseas. It is a ground familiar to Celtic who played a friendly against Real Madrid there in the summer of 2012, going down 2-0 to the then Spanish champions.

Further details are still to be finalised, although it is understood the preference is for a date early in 2017 assuming the SPFL sanctions what would be seen as a controversial proposal. The move is the brainchild of John Nelms, Dundee’s American managing director, and he believes it is getting closer to becoming a reality.

“We are working very hard to move things forward,” he said. “It’s an exciting prospect for everyone involved. We want to make Dundee and Scottish football a global brand.”

In their recent season ticket renewal letters, Dundee also advised their fans that one of next season’s home matches could take place overseas. “The Club wants to make supporters aware that we are still in negotiations to play one of our home matches of the 2016/17 campaign in the USA,” read a statement. “In the event that this concludes successfully, all season ticket holders will be entitled to a voucher from Dundee Direct or cash back from the ticket office.”

Late last year Celtic also revealed they were looking into the possibility of starting a franchise in the North American Soccer League.