CELTIC are poised to complete the £1.6m signing of Israeli internationalist Hatem Abd Elhamed from Happoel Be’er Sheva after the defender received a work permit.

And Parkhead manager Neil Lennon has confirmed that he is keen to bring in another player who can be deployed at right back following the departure of Mikael Lustig and that former Leicester City defender Danny Simpson would not be coming in on trial.

“We are down the line with one player and we might be bringing another one in so we are progressing towards that,” he said. “So at the moment with Simpson we will just leave it.

“Hatem Abd Elhamed is going through the medical process at the minute and we had the work permit granted on Monday. So it’s about the paperwork and the medical as we speak.

“He has got to be himself, but there are similarities with Mikael. He’s a good type, but he’s quicker than Mikael. That wouldn’t be hard! Mikael was a stalwart and really consistent, but you can’t think about anything other than just being your own player."

Asked if Elhamed would play right back, Lennon said: “He’s one of them. It’s been an issue for the club over the last couple of years and I think a lot of clubs are in the same boat. We feel we are close with Hatem and we are in negotiations with another.”