Celtic reportedly made late contact with Josh Mulligan’s camp ahead of the Europa League squad deadline, according to journalist Scott Burns.

The Hibs midfielder has been linked with Celtic before, and it appears the Hoops made a late move to explore whether anything could be done before the European deadline passed on Wednesday night.

Speaking on Hotline Live, Burns said: “I was told yesterday that Celtic made contact with Josh Mulligan’s camp, but it was obviously too late in the day to get anything done.

“I don’t know if it was contact club to club, but there were certainly feelers towards Josh Mulligan, but whatever happened, it never got off the ground. That was yesterday.”

Celtic were racing to complete several deals before submitting their Europa League squad, with Oliver Sørensen, Joel van den Berg, Jordan Lotomba, Landon Emenalo, Sam Johnstone and Shumaira Mheuka all added during a frantic end to the window.

Mulligan, though, was never likely to be straightforward at that stage.

The 23-year-old only joined Hibs from Dundee last summer and is under a long-term contract at Easter Road. Any late move would have needed to progress quickly on several fronts, especially with the European deadline already putting pressure on Celtic’s business.

Burns’ update suggests Celtic at least tested the water, but the move never got beyond early contact.

Mulligan’s profile would have made sense as another energetic and mobile midfielder, particularly after Arne Engels’ departure and Celtic’s late scramble to add bodies to that area of the pitch.

With the Scottish transfer window now closed, there is no room left for the move to be revived this summer.

Mulligan remains at Hibs, while Celtic’s late midfield business ended with the additions of Joel van den Berg and Oliver Sørensen.