CELTIC defender Christopher Jullien is edging closer to the exit door at Parkhead as interest in the centre-half from European clubs has intensified.

German giants Schalke have been joined by French pair Rennes and Lorient in their pursuit of the defender, who has fallen down the pecking order in Glasgow since Ange Postecoglou took charge last summer.

The 29-year-old was signed by former manager Neil Lennon in a £7million deal from Toulouse in summer 2019 but barely featured last term as he recovered from a lengthy injury lay-off.

And it looks as though the Premiership champions will be making a significant loss on the centre-half, with reports in France claiming that Ligue 1 outfits Rennes and Lorient are each preparing bids of around £1.5m. The Scottish Sun report that there is also interest from newly-promoted Bundesliga side Schalke.

Jullien's contract expires next summer and Celtic chiefs will have to sell the defender in this transfer window if they want to recoup any of the £7m outlay from three years ago.

The Frenchman appears to be closing in on a move elsewhere. On Tuesday - one day after the first-team squad returned to Lennoxtown for training - Jullien posted a picture of himself on a plane on Instagram, prompting speculation that he is in the process of finding a new club, before deleting the post later that day.