REPORTS are linking Celtic with a move for Schalke defender Malick Thiaw, amid Christopher Jullien's imminent exit from Parkhead.

The 20-year-old is highly-rated by the German club who gained promotion back to the Bundesliga last season.

Calciomercato reports that Celtic are in talks to sign Thiaw, with AC Milan and Liverpool also credited with an interest.

Ange Postecoglou's side would have to fork out a fee for the youngster, with him currently contracted in Germany until 2024.

The interest comes as Jullien is closing in on a move to Schalke, with the deal expected to be finalised on Wednesday.

The French centre-half has slipped down the Parkhead picking order since Postecoglou took the reins of the Glasgow club last summer, and barely featured at all last term as he continued his recovery from injury.

The 29-year-old, who joined Celtic in a £7million move from Toulouse in 2019, is currently undergoing a medical with Schalke and the deal is set to go through within the next 24 hours, according to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano.