Lawwell is looking to hoop Gary

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell was today to push forward with three transfer targets as Neil Lennon prepares for the Champions League opener against Sporting Braga.

Lawwell is close to finalising deals for Scunthorpe striker Gary Hooper and Israel midfielder Biram Kayal, while veteran England goalkeeper David James is expected in Glasgow for talks following his departure from Portsmouth.

Kayal, 22, is set to arrive from Maccabi Haifa and Celtic will seek to tie up their lengthy pursuit of Hooper, also 22, who has netted 50 goals in two seasons for Scunthorpe.

Hooper's team-mate, Michael O'Connor, claims his boyhood idols are signing a better striker than Scott McDonald, who left Parkhead for Middlesbrough in January after a prolific two-and-a-half-year spell.

O'Connor said: "He is one of the best players I have played with, he is different class.

"If he goes to Celtic I will put a few quid on him to be top scorer in Scotland next season. I think he will get 25 to 30 goals up there. He scored 20 in the Championship last season even though he missed out on around 16 games. Rob Jones, who used to play for Hibs, thinks along the same lines."