SAINTS have agreed terms with Celtic for midfielder Stuart Armstrong with the club now free to negotiate with the 26-year-old over a potential move.

The club have held a long-term interest in the Scotland international and it has been reported by the BBC that Saints are ready to pay an initial fee of £7m.

Armstrong will now begin discussing his own terms with Saints, ahead of a potential move which the player is said to be keen to make.

The former Dundee United man signed a new two-year contract at Celtic last summer, meaning he is entering the final year of that deal.

Armstrong, who can play in central midfield as well as in the attacking areas, moved to the Scottish champions from Dundee in 2015 and has made 98 appearances, notching 23 goals along the way.

Crystal Palace and Brighton have also retained an interest in Armstrong but it’s Saints who lead the race for his signature.

Of course, Armstrong wouldn’t be Saints’ first signing from Celtic in recent history.

Fraser Forster, Victor Wanyama and Virgil van Dijk have all made the move from Parkhead to St Mary’s in the last five years. 

If this deal is done, it would take Saints’ spending on Celtic players to around £42.5m.

Armstrong’s primary position is central midfield, so he’ll come into the side to compete with the likes of Oriol Romeu, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Steven Davis and Mario Lemina.

At Celtic he won four league titles, two Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups.

Armstrong played for Scotland at age group level and has six senior caps to his name.