Swansea and Stoke want Celtic ace Jonny Hayes as contract in Scotland comes to an end

SWANSEA are set to make a move to lure Jonny Hayes from Celtic.

But SunSport understands Championship rivals Stoke could foil their pursuit of the Republic of Ireland international – who is out of contract at the end of the season.

Hayes in Celtic trainingCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow

Celtic don’t want to lose the winger, 32, and are looking for him to commit his future to the club.

But the clock is ticking for the Hoops as Hayes’ representatives will be free to open talks with other clubs in the New Year.

There’s also the prospect that Celtic could lose Hayes for nothing in the summer if he were to agree a pre-contract switch.

New Stoke manager Michael O’Neill is keen to tempt Hayes, who started his career at Reading before joining Leicester in 2007, back down south.

He also had loan spells at Northampton and then Cheltenham Town before he headed north to sign for Inverness Caledonian Thistle in 2009 and Aberdeen in 2012.

After five years at the Dons, where has was a League Cup winner in 2014, he signed for Celtic, then under the management of Leicester chief Brendan Rodgers.

Hayes has made 16 appearances for Celts this season and scored in September’s 2-0 win over Rangers at Ibrox.

Swansea will now fight Stoke all the way to land the versatile star in the January transfer window.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk