from the evening times.
CELTIC finally rid themselves of misfit Thomas Gravesen today - but it has cost them to off-load the high-earning Dane.
The Parkhead side announced they had parted company with the 32-year-old midfielder, who arrived from Real Madrid two years ago in a high-profile £2m switch.
It is believed Gravesen was paid part of the monies due to him for the final year of his contract which was due to expire in the summer of 2009.
Some claims have put the compensation figure at as much as £1.2m as the former Everton man was on £40,000-per-week including appearance and win bonuses.
Gravesen fell away quickly after a positive start. He was loaned to Everton last season, but couldn't get a permanent move and has continued to be frozen out by boss Gordon Strachan, who said he didn't fit into the system he wants to use.
He was left in no doubt he had no future at Parkhead but, with the transfer window edging towards its conclusion, a deal has been struck.
A Celtic statement read: "Celtic Football Club, Thomas Gravesen and Thomas's representatives have agreed he will part company with the club. Thomas wishes Celtic every success and, likewise, the club wishes Thomas all the very best."
As Gravesen was going out the door, Shaun Maloney was waiting for the green light to return.
The Aston Villa player has been linked with a move back to Parkhead for a year now, and may get his wish before the August 31 deadline.
But Strachan wants to bring the 25-year-old back some 18 months after he left in a £1m deal. And he may not have to pay much more than that figure to seal Maloney's return.
Strachan is keen to have competition all over the park, and knows Maloney can play in various positions.
He snapped up Dutch defender Glenn Loovens in a £2.5m deal from Cardiff which could eventually dismantle the defensive pairing of Stephen McManus and Gary Caldwell.
It's believed the Celtic boss would still like to bring in a left-sided defender and a fourth striker.
Celtic could now also look at striking a similar deal as with Gravesen to get Bobo Balde off the books. Five teams are said to be interested in the Guinean, but none are willing to match his demands for a £250,000 signing-on fee.
Ipswich are thought to be keen on signing Chris Killen. According to Strachan, one man the club won't be moving for is Man United defender Mikael Silvestre.
