CELTIC last night signed Liverpool third-choice goalkeeper Tony Warner on a loan deal to tide them over their current goalkeeping crisis.

As they did so, Rangers were putting the final touches to a deal that is set to bring German World Cup goalkeeper Andreas Kopke to Ibrox, possibly as soon as Monday.

The introduction to Celtic of 24-year-old Warner, who has spent six years on Merseyside and has yet to play a first-team game, gives coach Dr Jozef Venglos another option for today's game against St Johnstone.

Yesterday, though, Venglos praised the performance of 21-year-old Andy McCondichie, who was brought into the side following injuries to both first-choice goalkeeper Jonathan Gould and his understudy, Stewart Kerr.

It is likely that McCondichie will keep his place in the side today with Warner, who will be at Celtic for three months at least and who played for Swindon on loan last season, being on the bench.

That seat is something Warner knows well, as he has been understudy to both David James and Brad Friedel, but he said of his move: ''I am looking forward to spending time at Celtic - it is an opportunity that I welcome.''

The decision to bring him to the club was revealed by Fergus McCann, who said that, in the absence of Jock Brown, he had been taking a hands-on approach to matters.

He and director Eric Riley, he said, had been dealing with players' contracts and trying to identify new ones for the club ''virtually round the clock.''

As to the goalkeeping situation, McCann said they had been talking to several British clubs before the Warner loan deal was set up. Among the clubs approached were Everton, but negotiations to bring their reserve goalkeeper, Paul Gerrard, to Scotland broke down.

Meanwhile, McCondichie has made it clear he wants to make the No.1 jersey his own, on a short-term basis at least.

''Being realistic, there are two internationalists ahead of me in the queue for a first-team place,'' said McCondichie.

''My contract is up at the end of the season and I'm keeping my options open.''

McCondichie is used to the big- match atmosphere and, as well as playing against Dundee in the 6-1 win last week, he has played in Old Firm reserve matches as well as for Hamilton during a loan spell, being taken there by the current St Johnstone manager, Sandy Clark.

Rangers manager Dick Advocaat admitted that the deal for 36-year-old Kopke from Olympique Marseille had not been finalised, with the player's personal terms holding up the free transfer.

''It still can happen, but the terms are the problem - like always - and we are hoping to sign him until the end of the season on Monday or Tuesday,'' said Advocaat.

The coach added that Lionel Charbonnier's cruciate ligament damage should be operable in a fortnight. He explained: ''Lionel still has fluid in his knee, but he should be operated on within 14 days.''

There was better news for Rangers fans when the Dutchman revealed that former Swedish international Jonas Thern would be back training with the first team in two weeks.

It was feared that the 31-year-old would never play football again after having picked up a knee-cap injury during the summer, but he returned to training this week with club physiotherapist Grant Downie.

''He hasn't played for three or four months, but I saw him practising this morning and he looked like a young child.,'' said Advocaat. ''He has worked so hard to come back to fitness and so far there are no problems.''

Meanwhile, David Graham could soon be leaving Rangers after Dunfermline manager Bert Paton said he was keen to take the youngster to the Fife club.