Celtic favourites to sign Giroud

Celtic feared they would have to wait until summer to sign the Tours striker, but Giroud is now ready to leave the Ligue 2 side, according to The Daily Record.

Giroud said, when asked if he would stay with Tours for the season: “No, it’s not as simple as that. We’re now at a stage where a lot of thinking has to be done. There is a lot of interest inme.

“Celtic and Middlesbrough are the most persistent but there’s also interest from Montpellier, Valenciennes,Monaco and Toulouse.

“On one hand I feel content at Tours but on the other there are opportunities for me to go abroad or play in Ligue 1 in January.

“Most clubs want me for the start of 2010 because they need to reinforce their attacking options quickly and can’t wait.

“I could stay at Tours for the season or could take the chance to prove myself in Ligue 1 or abroad quicker than expected.”