Celtic are “ready” to make a formal move for Newcastle winger Ryan Fraser, according to The Northern Echo.

The local newspaper claims that manager Brendan Rodgers is keen to add another wide player to his ranks and he has identified the 26-cap Scotland international as a target.

Fraser has been frozen out by Magpies boss Eddie Howe and he has been training with the development squad for a number of months.

The final nail in the coffin came when his shirt number ’21’ was handed to new signing Tino Livramento, and he has not been given a new one despite the English Premier League season kicking off at the weekend.

Fraser is still only 29 years of age so he is by no means at the end of his career and he is not expected to cost a lot either with the Northern Echo claiming that Newcastle just want to get him off the wage bill.

Celtic will need to find a compromise on his salary

According to website Capology, Fraser is currently earning £42,000 a week, which is way beyond what Celtic would be prepared to pay him.

The winger has two years left on his contract with the Magpies so a lot will depend on whether he is looking to leave to get game time or if he is willing to sit on the sidelines and see out his current deal.

Is Fraser needed?

Considering that both Marco Tilio and Yang Hyun-jun have been brought in by the Hoops this summer, there are already plenty of options in wide areas, if we also add in the likes of Liel Abada, Daizen Maeda, Sasa Haksabanovic and James Forrest.

For that reason, fans may want to treat this report from the Northern Echo with some caution until another source can corroborate the story.