Following yesterday's confirmation that Gary Hooper is a Norwich City player, Celtic manager Neil Lennon now has the task of finding a replacement for a striker who scored 82 goals in 138 appearances at Parkhead.
If reports are to be believed, Lennon's job will be made even harder by the fact that he will not be given all of the £5m that Norwich paid for the centre-forward to bring in a fresh face.
So, with that in mind, Sports Mole has picked out five frontmen who could fill the Hooper-shaped void, both in terms of value and ability.
Charlie Austin, Burnley
Earlier this month it seemed that Austin was preparing for life in the Premier League with Hull City, only for the Tigers to pull out at the 11th hour over medical concerns. Granted the checks may have shown up a knee issue, but it has not stopped the 24-year-old from scoring 45 goals in 90 appearances for Burnley over the last two seasons. What's more, with just 12 months left to run on his deal at Turf Moor, Celtic may be able to negotiate a cut-price deal.
Kevin Doyle, Wolverhampton Wanderers
Some Celtic supporters may feel that they should be setting their sights a little higher than League One, but it cannot be ignored that the third tier of English football is where Hooper scored a lot of his goals for Scunthorpe United. While Doyle hardly set the world alight for Wolves last season, he has shown in the past that he is a very capable striker. The Republic of Ireland international has scored goals in the Premier League as well, including 13 for Reading during the 2006-07 campaign. The fact that Wolves were relegated at the end of last season may mean that Celtic can secure his services relatively cheaply.
© PA Photos
Billy McKay, Inverness Caledonian Thistle
When McKay left Northampton Town in 2011 with just 16 goals from his 84 appearances, it seemed as though his career had stalled. He then moved to Inverness, where he added three goals during his first year in Scotland. However, last season the 24-year-old started to fulfill his potential with 27 goals in all competitions, which in turn helped Caley finish fourth. Although he recently signed a new contract at the Caledonian Stadium, he is unlikely to turn down Celtic's advances.
Billy Sharp, Southampton
Like Hooper, Sharp made a name for himself earlier in his career with Scunthorpe. Back during the 2006-07 season, he scored 30 times to help The Iron gain promotion to the Championship. Since then he has played for the likes of Sheffield United, Doncaster Rovers, Southampton and Nottingham Forest, but despite numerous moves, he still possesses a clinical touch. His chances of starting action are limited with Southampton and consequently he has been made available for transfer.
© PA Photos
Leigh Griffiths, Wolverhampton Wanderers
There were few better frontmen in Scotland last season than Griffiths. The Wolves loanee netted 28 goals in all competitions for Hibernian - a statistic that saw him collect the SFWA Footballer of the Year, SPL Player of the Year and SPFA Young Player of the Year awards. The 22-year-old is not just a striker who comes alive in the penalty area either; he can also score from distance and convert free kicks. Wolves are believed to be keen to keep hold of the Scotland international, but the lure of returning to his homeland on a permanent basis could prove too strong.
