Celtic may be riding high in the Scottish Premiership and loving life under Brendan Rodgers but they’re a club that never rest on their laurels and will be looking to strengthen even further this summer.
With a scouting network that casts its eye far and wide, there are potential arrivals from around the world that could head to Celtic Park to play football.
However, the Hoops have never been strangers to securing the best talent currently playing in Scottish football, regularly procuring stars from the likes of Dundee United and Hibs over the years.
One player having a great season in 2016/17 is Hibernian’s Jason Cummings, whose goals have helped propel Neil Lennon’s side to the top of the Scottish Championship in their bid to return to the top-flight.
Should the Bhoys make their move for the 21-year-old this summer?
Here are FIVE reasons Cummings should be on Celtic’s radar when the transfer window re-opens
His goal record
Since bursting into the Hibernian first-team at the age of 18, Jason Cummings has been a reliable and regular scorer. In the two full seasons he’s played for the club, he’s managed at least 20 goals a time and is well on his way to repeating that feat – he’s currently on 15 for the season so far.
That’s 63 goals in just over three years of football which isn’t bad going at all. It’s a record that should certainly interest Celtic.
He’s been doing on the international scene too, progressing through Scotland’s youth ranks as a consistent performer. With three goals in nine U-21 internationals, he’s shown the potential required to be a future Scotland star.
Dembele could go
Speculation surrounding Moussa Dembele’s departure from Celtic this summer won’t go away. The latest reports came just last weekend via The Sunday Mirror, who claim that Arsenal are the newest club to show interest in the young Frenchman.
While we know Celtic are in no rush to sell and that Dembele seems happy in Glasgow, money talks. Nobody knows whether or not a firm bid will be lodged this summer for the free-scoring 20-year-old, but if one does appear then the Hoops could be tempted to cash in on the man who has provided supporters with lots of joy in his short time at the club.
That means reinforcements will be needed and the in-form Cummings could be a player right on their doorstep that can bang in the goals on a regular basis at Celtic Park.
Depth needed
Even if Moussa Dembele does stick around for another season then Celtic still need reinforcements in attack. With just Leigh Griffiths as a capable replacement – a player who has had injury problems of his own this season – if Dembele picks up a knock or loses form then the Hoops are at risk of being caught short in the striking areas.
We’ve seen that recently with Brendan Rodgers having to play with no striker when Dembele and Griffiths have been ruled out. While they’ve come through those tests unscathed, it’s not a viable way forward long-term.
Nadir Ciftci is the only other recognised striker at the club and it’s clear he’s not of a quality required to lead the line for Celtic.
A move for Cummings, if nothing else, would add vital depth to the squad.
He loves a derby goal
Last February, Cummings became the first Hibernian player in 42 years to score in four consecutive Edinburgh derbies, proving that he absolutely loves getting one over on Hibs’ city rivals in the big games.
He also has goals and assists against Rangers in his time at Easter Road, setting up Anthony Stokes’ opener against the Ibrox side in last year’s famous Scottish Cup Final.
Celtic need players with that kind of swagger and attitude at the club. That big-game mentality is a massive positive for a team that plays its fair share across the season and always has the pressure from supporters to win every match.
A similar path to Griffiths & Stokes
Cummings wouldn’t be the first striker to play for Celtic that played an important role at Hibs prior to arriving at Celtic Park.
Leigh Griffiths scored 39 goals in 78 games for the Easter Road side over two seasons, a similar striking record to Cummings’. Anthony Stokes scored 24 goals in 48 for Hibs, again a similar record to Cummings.
Both of those players have been fine performers for Celtic and while Stokes eventually left the club, he definitely made his mark on supporters.
What sets both players apart from Cummings is spells in England and if the young Scottish striker is also going to follow their path in this regard then Celtic should steal a march retain his services in Scotland.