Strachan is in the market for a new central defender and has already been linked with moves for Gabriel Tamas, Danny Shittu, Marko Basa and Khalid Boulahrouz. Now it appears that Scotland cap Berra is his number one target.

Hearts however are desperate to hang on to their inspirational skipper and rejected a £1.5million offer from Wolves earlier in the summer.

Celtic would have to cough up around £2million to secure the services of the 23-year-old.