CELTIC have made clear their intention to sign Kevin Thomson and Scott Brown from Hibs.

The young midfield players have made it just as clear they want to come to Parkhead, though I am still trying to understand why they have to go anywhere as a package.

They are talented players. But, where would either, let alone both, fit into the current Celtic side?

Neil Lennon is going to remain in the team most weeks. Thomas Gravesen is on big money, so he is going to expect to be involved, while Evander Sno is already considered their back-up, and there's also Jiri Jarosik to consider.

Shunsuke Nakamura will always be in Gordon Strachan's line-up, and Aiden McGeady, Derek Riordan and Shaun Maloney are battling to get the other midfield jersey.

All of which leads you to believe that, if Thomson and Brown do arrive at Parkhead, they will have to be content with supporting roles, at least for the time being, just as Riordan has had to do for more than half a season.

That, for me, is the main surprise in the whole story, the timing of the bid.

Perhaps Celtic would have been happier to make their move in the summer, something which Hibs boss John Collins would prefer. But the situation appears to have developed to such an extent they believe they have to go for them now.

Having monitored them for so long, Gordon will not want to lose out on them. And he will realise that, with all that has happened in recent weeks, they might not be there much longer.

WITH Thomson and Brown stating publicly they want to sign for Celtic, they really have put their necks on the line. Normally, players get their agents to do this kind of talking for them. But it appears they have come out with it themselves and I'd hate to be in their position.

What will the atmosphere be like in the Easter Road dressing room? How will the Hibs fans react to them? Gary Caldwell signed a pre-contract agreement to join Celtic and he got pelters from the Hibs supporters when he was still captaining the side.

Of course, Hibs remain in the driving seat because they have the players under contract for at least another couple of years.

But, with all that has happened, I'd expect a deal to be completed to get them away from Easter Road before the transfer window closes, despite what John Collins has said.

The players better hope so because, if they don't get their moves, the tables turn and Hibs can call all the shots as nothing could happen until the end of the season.

That would not be a good situation either for the club or the players. The other intriguing aspect of all this for me is the money it would take to get them to Parkhead.

Can Celtic afford it at this time when they still need to find a back-up striker and defensive cover?

Again, though, it is all down to timing and Celtic clearly believe they have to go for them now, though I doubt it will be the only piece of business they want to do in this window.