According to Football Scotland, and John Fallon, Lawal is to undergo a medical with the Potters this afternoon in a £2m transfer that could rise to £3m.

Despite putting in a strong showing for the Hoops this pre-season, Lawal will depart Celtic Park for pastures new and will return to England after a loan spell at Fleetwood Town last season.

Football Scotland add the move is ‘imminent’ and that Lawal will sign a three-year deal at the Bet365 Stadium. The Staffordshire club begin their EFL Championship season against Coventry City on Saturday.

It was reported in July by the Daily Record that Birmingham City, along with Dutch side Fortuna Sittard, wanted to sign Lawal. Later in the month, Football Insider claimed Bournemouth had registered an interest along with RB Salzburg and Stoke City. However, it appears now that Steven Schumacher’s side have won the race to sign the Republic of Ireland under-21 international, who can also operate in the centre of defence.

The 21-year-old mainly played as a midfielder during his loan spell with Fleetwood last season. He featured 46 times for the Cod Army and managed six assists and two goals.

Birmingham City have already signed one central midfielder this summer after recruiting Marc Leonard from Brighton & Hove Albion. They also brought in Luke Harris from Fulham on a season-long loan, but he is more of an attacking midfielder. Blues are set to lose one central midfielder with transfer guru Fabrizio Romano reporting in a post on Twitter on Thursday that a bid had been accepted from Rennes for Jordan James.