REDKNAPP: "its all agreed" Hooper Deal Done.....

Celtic in Kevin Doyle dash

CELTIC face a race against time to sign Kevin Doyle ahead of tonight’s Champions League deadline after they accepted a £5million bid from Queens Park Rangers for Gary Hooper.

By: Scott BurnsPublished: Thu, July 25, 2013
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Contact-has-already-been-made-with-Kevin-Doyle-and-his-representatives Contact has already been made with Kevin Doyle and his representatives

Boss Neil Lennon is resigned to losing Hooper – with Norwich City still not out of the race for his signature – and has turned to Wolves and Republic of Ireland striker Doyle to replace him.

Contact has already been made with the player and his representatives.

Evian forward Saber Khelifa is also in the mix but the Celtic boss would prefer to go for Doyle who has top-level British experience for club and country.

Celtic almost landed Doyle, 29, in January but failed to get the deal over the line.

However, Wolves are now ready to do business to get him off their wage bill after their relegation to League One.

Celtic would have to match Doyle’s wages, but moves are under way to try to get a dealdone by tonight so Doyle could be registered for next week’s Champions League qualifier with Swedish champions Elfsborg.

Lennon had hoped to land long-term target Artjoms Rudnovs in a £5m transfer from Hamburg, but the Latvian international is not interested in a move to Scotland.

Celtic gave Hooper permission to speak to QPR yesterday and it is understood his representatives held talks.

The striker wasn’t keen on dropping down to the Championship but Harry Redknapp is throwing big money into the deal in a bid to convince him.

Norwich tabled a bid of around £4m and are likely to have one more crack, although they will now have to match QPR’s offer.

He wants to play for England but if he’s scoring regularly for Celtic that shouldn’t be a problem. Goals are goals, whether you’re scoring them in France, Spain or Scotland
Former Celtic midfielder Stiliyan Petrov
Former Celtic midfielder Stiliyan Petrov has told Hooper he would be mad to swap the Champions League for the Championship if he joins QPR.

“Should you swap the Champions League to become a Championship player? I don’t think so,” said Petrov. “I wouldn’t advise him to take that step.

“He wants to play for England but if he’s scoring regularly for Celtic that shouldn’t be a problem. Goals are goals, whether you’re scoring them in France, Spain or Scotland.

“Parkhead is a hard place to leave if you want a step up in your career.

“When I went to Aston Villa a lot of fans asked me, ‘Why do you want to leave such a great club?’

“I replied that maybe I’d regret it, but I was happy because I went to a league where players were stronger and faster and I learned a lot.”

After winning the last two SPL titles at a canter, the Bulgarian knows why Hooper might want a new challenge. He said: “Up here you’d look ahead and think, ‘This is an easy game and we’ll get through it’ but in the Premier League you can’t think like that.

“Every game is hard. Gary will learn a lot if he goes there.

“He’ll find it difficult but, with his ability, he can become one of the top strikers in that division.”