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According to reports in The Sun, Southampton are trailing Jiangsu Suning striker Richmond Boakye, currently on loan with Red Star Belgrade, and Celtic must do everything to hijack any potential deal and bring him to Celtic Park instead.

What's the word, then?

Well, The Sun report that Saints boss Mark Hughes is keen to strengthen his attacking options after watching his team score just six goals in their opening six Premier League matches so far this term, with a scout from the south coast outfit watching him score in Red Star's 1-1 draw with Partizan on Sunday.

The 25-year-old, who cost £5m when he moved to Asia in February, actually netted against Southampton in a pre-season friendly for Jiangsu during the summer, before rejoining his former team on loan having scored just three goals in 16 appearances in total for the Chinese Super League club.

That form is unrecognisable to what he has produced for Red Star since joining them in 2017, with his current record at 41 goals in 52 outings.

Why should Celtic hijack any deal?

The Bhoys looked to be sorted for strikers towards the end of the summer transfer window given they had Moussa Dembele, Odsonne Edouard and Leigh Griffiths to select from, but the departure of the former on deadline day has left them a little short up top.

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Edouard has now gone six games without finding the net as the Scottish Premiership holders' disappointing start to the new campaign continues – they have been knocked out of the Champions League and lie six points behind leaders Hearts in the league – and the club looks to be in desperate need of signing a new striker in January.

With his extraordinary goal record it is clear to see that he knows where the net is, and seeing as he is at a good age and may not cost the earth, he would be a shrewd addition for Brendan Rodgers in the New Year.