​Reported Celtic target Danny Wilson has left Hearts

​Reported Celtic target Danny Wilson has left Hearts after activating a clause in his contract.

The former Liverpool centre-half left Rangers in July 2010 to join the Reds for £2m but returned to Scotland to play for the Jambos in a free transfer in June 2013 after a successful six-month loan.

He made over 100 appearances for the club, scoring 11 goals.

Despite having a year to run on his current deal in the Scottish capital the 23-year-old has decided to seek out a new challenge.

Celtic manager Ronny Deila is believed to have the Scot on his list of summer targets, especially with Jason Denayer returning to parent club Manchester City and speculation surrounding Dutch stopper Virgil van Dijk and a possible move south.

He had options to go at the start of this season but he stayed because he wanted to see the job through and get us back to the top flight

Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson said last month: “Danny’s decided he wants a new challenge and, as I’ve said previously, I’ll never stand in the way of any player who wants to move on so he goes with our blessing and our thanks.

“He’s been an outstanding servant to this club and has played a vital part in its revival this season.

“Danny’s probably seen it all in the two and a half years that he’s been here, and probably had good cause to leave sooner if he had wished to do so.

“He took a pay cut during the bad times and was instrumental in helping to keep spirits up when things looked bleak; buying season tickets and donating them to club charity Big Hearts, and donating several raffle prizes for club events and then buying them back.

“He had options to go at the start of this season but he stayed because he wanted to see the job through and get us back to the top flight so for that I can’t thank him enough.

“We’ll miss him on and off the park and he’s been a great captain but that’s football; players join and players leave."

Meanwhile, Celtic U20 captain Connor McManus and forward Luke Donnelly have signed two-year extensions with the Scottish champions.