After missing out on Conor Simpson, should Celtic sign Josh Hawkes instead?

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Preston North End beat Scottish Premiership giants Celtic to Conor Simpson but Hartlepool United have another rising starlet in Josh Hawkes

Celtic missed out on one of the top young strikers in English football during the January transfer window, albeit one who had made just a smattering of first-team appearances at non-league level.

As reported by TEAMtalk, The Hoops made a move to sign Hartlepool United’s 17-year-old targetman Connor Simpson, an Andy Carroll-style centre-forward who was also on the radar of fellow North East clubs Newcastle United and Sunderland.

Shortly after, however, Simpson put pen to paper with Preston North End instead.

But should Celtic return to Victoria Park as Hartlepool face a barrage of offers for another highly-rated young talent?

According to the Sunderland Echo, the 19-year-old creative midfielder Josh Hawkes is a man in demand right now with Sunderland, Newcastle and Leeds United among the clubs keen to sign a player who Pool caretaker manager Matthew Bates believes is the best young talent in the area.

Hakwes even scored in his full debut last month, notching inside 10 minutes of a 2-1 home win against Bromley.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, however, is one of the best around when it comes to helping exciting, attacking prospects realise their potential, with the likes of Raheem Sterling and Scott Sinclair exploding onto the scene under the Northern Irish coach.

But after missing out on Simpson, should Celtic attempt to compensate by signing his highly-rated former team-mate?