Celtic have reportedly identified Ghana defender Jonathan Mensah as a potential summer buy.

The Scottish giants, whose regular Belgium centre-back Jason Denayer is heading for a return to Manchester City are looking for a replacement as Ronny Delia looks at rebuilding.

And the Hoops are, per media reports in that country, believed to be looking at the 24-year old Evian Thonon Gaillard man to strengthen their defence.

Mensah has played 27 games for Ghana including three in last year’s World Cup. He started his career with Ghana top flight side AshGold before moving to South African outfit Free State Stars in 2008.

Mensah’s performances for the ABSA Premiership side won him a move to Serie A giants Udinese, but he was farmed out on loan to Spanish side Granada.

Mensah, 24, eventually moved to Evian in 2011, signing a four-year deal.

As an Under-20 player, he won the 2009 African Youth Championship and the FIFA U-20 World Cup the same year, while he helped the Black Stars to African Cup of Nations glory earlier this year.

With Evian, he was part of the squad that narrowly missed out on the Coupe de France in the 2012/13 season.

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Follow Gary on Twitter: @garyalsmith