CELTIC’S PROPOSED MOVE for ex-Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Lassana Diarra has been blocked by his old club Lokomotiv Moscow, Goal understands.
As revealed by Goal, free agent Diarra was due to fly into Glasgow on Friday for talks with the Scottish champions about a move to Parkhead.
Diarra has been without a club since leaving Lokomotiv earlier this year and saw a move to Queens Park Rangers fall through at the end of the summer transfer window.
Celtic have expressed an interest in signing Diarra on a short-term deal until the end of the season, with the Frenchman expected to watch Saturday’s home clash with Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
However, it is now understood that there has now been a late hitch in the move due to an issue between Diarra and Lokomotiv stalling the transfer.
Despite being a free agent, Lokomotiv have withheld Diarra’s registration and are thought to be refusing to release his paperwork to allow him to move to Celtic.
The Bhoys are understood to be hopeful of sorting out the snag as they look to pull off a coup by bringing the former Real Madrid man to Scotland.
By David Craddock, Goal.com
