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Swansea close in on Celtic's Ki

Ki Sung-yueng could be heading to the Liberty Stadium © Getty Images

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Swansea City are interested in signing Celtic's South Korea international midfielder Ki Sung-yueng and have made an approach about a deal, the SPL champions have said.

Confirmation of Swansea's interest came after the Celtic assistant manager Johan Mjallby told reporters that Ki wanted to leave the club and would not be travelling to the Champions League play-off game against Helsingborg on Tuesday.

A Celtic spokesman said Swansea were the interested party. Earlier, Mjallby had said: "He is keen to move on and the club is in discussion with another club. There have been a few clubs interested in him.

"I know for sure there has been one bid for him. He is a quality player, but he is keen to move on, so the club needs to do something. He was away at the Olympics for a period of time, but we will be sorry to see him go."

Ki, 23, has won 47 caps for South Korea and played for his country at London 2012. Reports suggest that the Swans could be ready to pay up to £6 million for him.

He joined Celtic in January 2010 after spending three years with FC Seoul, and made 34 appearances as the Hoops won the title last season.

Meanwhile, Swansea manager Michael Laudrup has urged winger Scott Sinclair, who has said he will not sign a new contract at the Liberty Stadium, to make a decision about his future.

Sinclair's Swansea deal expires at the end of the season and he has been linked with a move to Manchester City - but it is unclear whether that means he could leave before the window closes or when his deal expires, and Laudrup would like some indication.

He said: "If something has to happen, then at least the club has time to react. We just have to see what happens every day. Every day can be a new day. I don't know, and maybe not even Scott knows, what will happen."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.