Gary Hooper's Sheffield Wednesday form has piqued the interest of West Brom, Crystal Palace and Brighton - but what of former club Celtic?
Gary Hooper has started the season on fire for Sheffield Wednesday. In 12 games in all competitions, the striker has eight goals and is comfortably on track for his most prolific season in five years.
In fact, Hooper has been so impressive that The Sun reports that Crystal Palace, West Brom and Brighton are all willing to hand him a second chance in the Premier League. The 29-year-old scored just six times in 32 games for Norwich City back in 2013/14 but that has not put off three top flight teams in desperate need of a goalscorer.
Hooper’s former club Celtic, however, are far stronger on the attacking front. In Moussa Dembele and Leigh Griffiths, the champions boast two strikers more than capable of breaking the 30-goal barrier this season. And PSG loanee Odsonne Edouard provides plenty of potential in a back-up role.
The £6 million-rated Hooper, however, would still be welcomed back at Parkhead with open arms. The stocky striker proved a remarkable addition for Celtic when arriving from Scunthorpe Town for as little as £2.4 million in 2010, per the BBC.
Across three seasons, Hooper scored 82 goals in 132 games and won two Scottish Premiership titles. The question is, however, should Celtic be tempted by the idea of bringing Hooper back to Glasgow with Griffiths, Dembele and Edouard already at the club?
And, at £6 million, Hooper would become the joint-most expensive player in the club’s history, level with John Hartson and Chris Sutton.
On current form, however, Hooper would add real quality to an already fearsome Celtic attack. And the fact that he boasted a more than respectable record in European football during his time in green and white, scoring seven goals in 19 continental appearances, should perhaps twist Brendan Rodgers’ arm.
After all, the manager has made it clear that improving in Europe is Celtic’s main aim over the coming years. Re-signing Hooper would go a long way to improving the club’s continental prospects.
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