Charles Pickel offered to Celtic as transfer option as Hoops consider bolstering midfield

Celtic have been offered DR Congo international Charles Pickel as Brendan Rodgers searches for a new defensive midfielder, Football Scotland understands.

The Hoops are believed to have put the feelers out for a player in that position with the Cremonese man, 26, being put to them as someone who would fit the profile perfectly. His name has been put to the recruitment team for consideration, sources have told us.

There is serious interest in the player's services from clubs in the English Championship, including Leeds and Preston. Football Scotland understands Celtic would be Pickel's preferred destination but it remains to be seen if they will firm up any interest for a summer swoop.

The Swiss-born player has a contract with the Serie B outfit until 2026 so would require a decent sized fee. He was previously a teammate of Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers in Italy.

Pickel moved to Cremonese two years ago upon their promotion to Serie A after starring for Familicao in Portugal. Previously he was with Grenoble in France's Ligue 2, where he won the club's player of the year award. Prior to that he was on the books of Basel and Grashoppers in Switzerland and also enjoyed loan spells at FC Schaffhausen and Neuchâtel Xamax.

He is predominantly a defensive midfielder but is versatile and can cover other positions, such as right-back or a more advanced midfielder role.

The athletic 6ft1in star won the first of 12 DR Congo caps last year and played as they reached the semi-finals of AFCON this year.