Davie Hay expects Celtic to bring in a better quality of striker than Gary Hooper.
In midweek there was a report that Neil Lennon is interested in the striker whose contract at Sheffield Wednesday is about to expire.
Hooper was a key element in Lennon’s success first time around and is constantly asked on social media about ‘coming home’ by Celtic supporters.
Back in 2010 Celtic paid Scunthorpe £2.2m to secure the goals of Hooper but this summer Hay expects to see a higher quality of striker coming in to compete with or play alongside Odsonne Edouard.
In the Evening Times Hay explained:
The top of the park is an area that Celtic definitely have to strengthen in the window, but whoever they do bring in over the summer, I would like to think they would be able to attract a better quality of player. That’s meaning no disrespect to a striker who did well for Celtic when he was here before, and has always known where the net is throughout his career.
There may be a case to bring Hooper in to add a bit of depth to the squad along with someone else with a bit more quality as a starter, but I fully expect there to be higher targets in the Celtic manager’s mind rather than a forward who has just been released by Sheffield Wednesday in the English Championship.
In the season just finished Hooper only managed six appearances and one goal for Sheffield Wednesday with Steve Bruce overhauling the squad during the close season.
With question marks over what contribution Bayo and Leigh Griffiths will make next season bringing in an additional striker to compete with Edouard is a transfer priority whoever is in charge of Celtic.