CELTIC need to rebuild their striking department – at the double.
Former Hoops striker Scott McDonald reckons his old club must bring in TWO top-quality hitmen in their summer rebuild.
And the 37-year-old Australian international forward, who claimed 51 league goals in his three years at Parkhead after joining from Motherwell for £650,000 in 2007, insists the Hoops urgently require more firepower after a massively disappointing campaign.
Odsonne Edouard will almost certainly be sold, Patryk Klimala has already departed in a £3.5million switch to New York Red Bulls, Leigh Griffiths is sweating on his future and McDonald has not been impressed by Swiss attacker Albian Ajeti who arrived from West Ham in a £5million deal in August.
The one-time fans’ favourite, now playing for Brisbane Roar, also believes the Celts missed a natural scorer in Ivan Toney from Peterborough.
ON THE MOVE…Odsonne Edouard is heading for the Hoops exit.
It looked as though the prolific marksman was on his way to the club to boost their bid for a historic tenth successive title before the move collapsed and he joined Brentford for £6.5million. The lively attacker has claimed almost 30 goals in the Championship this term.
McDonald said: “Lessons need to be learned from last summer.
“Celtic had two excellent goalkeepers in Fraser Forster and Craig Gordon. For various reasons, both didn’t sign on again.
“The club also searched for a striker and Toney appeared to be their No. 1 target.
“I remember watching him two or three years ago for Peterborough against Middlesbrough and he really caught my eye.
“He had presence and pace. He looked to have the raw materials to go a long way.
“When Celtic were linked with him, I was excited. There was no doubt in my mind he’d do well. But a fee couldn’t be agreed and he went to Brentford. That was a blow.
PAIN GAME…Albian Ajeti rues another miss.
“Look at how well he is doing in the English Championship, so it’s a sore one to miss out on.
“The club ended up getting Ajeti, but it’s not been a great season for the Swiss striker. He has been in and out.
“So, we know how hard it is to find a proper No. 9. It will not be easy to find one.”
McDonald, speaking to the Sunday Post, added: “Indeed, Celtic might be looking for two strikers in the summer window if Leigh Griffiths and Odsonne Edouard follow Patryk Klimala, another disappointment this season, out the door. It makes it all the harder.
“Leigh scored a good goal against Aberdeen in midweek and that will have done his case no harm.
“But he has just eight goals in 26 appearances this season and Celtic must find someone who will get them at least 20 goals a season.
“A Celtic striker is judged on numbers, the amount of times he puts the ball in the net. He’s not judged on performances.
LETHAL LEIGH…Celtic hitman Leigh Griffiths celebrates his goal against Aberdeen with Karamoko Dembele about to join in.
“When I signed for the club 14 years ago from Motherwell, I gave the club a good return.
“Are there more of the same out there just now in the SPFL?
“Kevin Nisbet, of Hibs, and Lawrence Shankland, at Dundee United? Would they be prolific enough?
“Lyndon Dykes was at Livingston last season before moving to Queens Park Rangers and was mentioned for Celtic. Would he be prolific enough?
“It’s something my former club needs to address. Sorting out the goalkeeping situation and the centre-forward situation will be the priorities for the new manager.”
