Celtic and Aston Villa are ready to swoop for Emile Heskey in the January transfer window, says the Daily Mirror. The England striker's contract with Wigan expires next summer and, should he not sign a new deal by January, it is likely that Steve Bruce will cash in on his prize asset.

Aston Villa are favourites to sign the 30-year-old after having a £6m bid rejected last week. Heskey is understood to be keen on linking up with boss Martin O'Neill after the pair enjoyed a successful spell with Leicester City in the late 1990s.

However, Celtic hope the lure of Champions League football may be enough to tempt the former Liverpool forward north of the border.