Hoops striking out on 3
Celtic look to have suffered a triple whammy in their hunt for a new striker.
Sporting Lisbon appear to have moved into poll position to sign Andraz Sporar after boss Jorge Silas praised the Slovenian.
Italian side Genoa also seem to be ahead of the Hoops in the chase for Polish ace Patryk Klimala, while Lyon are favourites to land Le Havre hotshot Tino Kadewere.
Sporar was high on Neil Lennon’s wishlist but the £ 5million-rated striker’s club Slovan Bratislava claimed last week talks with Celtic had cooled.
Slovan have signed Alen Ozbolt from Lokomotiv Plovdiv in preparation for losing Sporar.
And Sporting boss Silas told newspaper A Bola: “We have several possibilities and when talking about a player for Sporting he has to have quality. I know Sporar and he is quality.”
Celtic were believed to be pushing to get a deal over the line for Jagiellonia Bialystok star Klimala .
But Italy’s Corriere dello Sport paper yesterday reported that Serie A Genoa were down to the final details in their bid to sign the 21-year- old and that dea l could be concluded early this week.
Klimala’s agent Tomasz Magdziarz said: “We are holding some talks on Patryk’s behalf.”
Celtic had also joined a list of clubs interested in Kadewere af ter the Zimbabwean’s 18 goals in 20 Ligue 2 games.
However, fel low French outfit Lyon are at the head of the queue and 24-yearold Kadewere said:
“Any thing is possible, if the club gets a nice offer then I’ll reflect.”