Celtic confirm Palma signing as Liverpool defender Phillips arrives in Glasgow

Celtic have confirmed the arrival of Honduran international winger Luis Palma in a £3.5million deal.

And Liverpool central defender Nat Phillips has also arrived in Glasgow to wrap up a one-year loan deal.

The champions are set to add Benfica's Portuguese midfielder Paulo Bernardo and a new left back before the window closes at midnight on Friday.

As revealed by Mail Sport last week, Aris-winger Palma is the seventh signing of the summer for Brendan Rodgers, with the 23-year-old putting pen to paper on a five year deal.

Capped six times for Honduras, Palma could now be pitched in for a baptism of fire against Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday.

He said: 'It is a very special day for me and an honour to be announced as a Celtic player. I can't wait to be part of this great club, a club I know all about as one of the great names in world football.

'I know that Celtic always aims to play football the right way, a team that entertains and has a pedigree of winning and delivering success, and this is what I want to be part of.

'I have spoken to the manager and I'm really looking forward to joining him and my team-mates and starting my journey with such a brilliant club.

'I have already had so many messages of support and I thank all our fans for the welcome I have been given.

'I can't wait to play in front of the Celtic supporters and I will do all I can to bring our fans good football and some good moments.'

Keen to add quality to the squad after crashing out of the Viaplay Cup in Kilmarnock and dropping league points to St Johnstone last weekend, Brendan Rodgers authorised a bid for former Rangers target Palma after Brondby priced attacker Mathias Kvitsgaarden out of a move.

'We are really pleased to bring Luis to the club,' said Rodgers. 'He is a player who had a lot of options but, of course, we are delighted he has chosen to come to Celtic, an opportunity which really excites him.

'He is a very talented, player who likes to play attacking football so we hope he will be a very good fit for the team.

'Luis has reached a very good level so far, playing a lot of games and achieving international recognition, but I also know that he is ambitious to improve and continue his development with us.' Hit by a triple whammy of injuries in central defence ahead of Sunday's first Old Firm meeting of the season, Rodgers also hopes to finalise Anfield defender Phillips on a season-long loan.

Championship Middlesbrough and German club Stuttgart were amongst a group of clubs interested in the 26-year-old. The son of former Rangers player Jimmy, Phillips has travelled to Glasgow to provide cover for the crocked Cameron Carter-Vickers, Maik Nawrocki and Stephen Welsh.

Handed his Liverpool debut by Jurgen Klopp in January 2020 the combative defender has made 29 senior appearances and had loan spells at Stuttgart and Bournemouth.

Left-back remains a priority heading into the final hours of the window, with Celtic repelling late interest from Leeds United for midfielder Matt O'Riley.

Albian Ajeti, Ismael Soro and Rocco Vata look more likely to leave before the deadline. Hopeful of heading out in search of first team football, goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist is now expected to stay put.

Celtic are also hopeful of extending the contracts of Israeli winger Liel Abada and Japanese midfielder Reo Hatate. Despite reports of an agreement with Abada, Mail Sport understands one or two hurdles have yet to be overcome.. Hatate has put further discussions over his own situation on hold until the window closes.