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Celtic: Gary Hooper is best since Henrik Larsson, says Neil Lennon

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments40

Gary Hooper is joining Norwich from Celtic

Neil Lennon has described Gary Hooper as Celtic's best striker since Henrik Larsson and says the Englishman will be a great loss after his move to Norwich.

The Celtic manager was speaking before .

"I think he's been the best striker here since Henrik and he will be a huge loss to us," said the Celtic manager.

"He has been one of my best signings in so many ways - for value for money, improvement, goals and link up play."

Hooper has been the Scottish champions' top scorer for the last three seasons since joining for £2.4m from Scunthorpe United.

But, having been on the fringes of the England squad, the 25-year-old rejected the offer of extending his Celtic contract beyond the end of this season.

"He came to me during pre-season in Germany and was honest enough to say his ambition was to play in England," said Lennon.

"I wish him well. Part of me wants to strangle him, but you don't want to stop the progression of some individuals.

"In Gary's case we couldn't offer him the same sort of package as Norwich. That's just the reality of where we are at the minute.

"If we can consistently get Champions League football over the next four or five years, that outlook might change, but the days of competing with Premier League clubs for fees and wages are not here at the minute anyway."

Having failed in a bid for Hooper in January, Norwich secured their target after matching for the Englishman.

Lennon, who has already added former Portugal Under-20 striker Amido Balde from Vitoria Guimaraes this summer, says Hooper's departure heightens his search for a forward.

"We're trying to push the button on one or two players," he said. "We've brought three players in, but an attacking player is a priority now.

"We're looking and looking, it's not as easy as everyone thinks.

"Yes, we have brought in a lot of money but we have to safeguard the future of the club as well.

"We have to be mindful of that when we go into negotiations with players. Some of the prices are too much, some of the wages are too much and sometimes players are happy where they are."

Lennon gave little away on whether he would return for Wolves striker Kevin Doyle following a failed attempt to sign the Irishman in January but did confirm he had watched Evian striker Saber Khelifa and that the Tunisian was an option, before adding that he had a "list as long as your arm".

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40 comments

  • Comment posted by Iain Dickson, at 07:55 27 Jul 2013

    No one is saying that Hooper was on par with Larsson. Since Henrik's exit from the Celtic, it is fair to say that Gary Hooper has been the only player to score on a consistent basis. Simple as that.

  • Comment posted by machino, at 13:25 27 Jul 2013

    Why haven't Celtic got a "particularly good deal"?

    We've received £5.5m for a non-Internationalist, who in this coming January, could have left for nothing.

    IF Norwich can provide Hooper with the chances...he'll score.

    Needs to up his workrate, though.

  • Comment posted by celtic_craig123, at 10:41 27 Jul 2013

    @23 Be a while until your lot get anywhere near European football! You'll have to find somewhere else to park the bus.

  • Comment posted by U14749909, at 10:26 27 Jul 2013

    @ 18 Must be tough for the newco being totally irrelevant that you need to spend your time trolling on here. Why don't you just p**s off

  • Comment posted by soapy, at 10:56 27 Jul 2013

    yet again the useless BBC is only showing the Celtic game in Scotland, cant even get to comment on that page!! what about the 2 million scots and Irish ppl living in Englandshire that would like to see Celtic let alone the English fans!! cmon BBC why do you do this?? you always show English stuff in Scotland but never the other way round!!

  • Comment posted by objectif, at 10:33 27 Jul 2013

    @18 Says a lot more about your comprehension skills - or lack thereof. Most deluded fans award surely belongs to supporters of therangers desparate to cling to the history and accolades of the club that went into liquidation, bitterly blaming everyone else for their predicament rather than embrace the chance they have been given.

  • Comment posted by U14749909, at 10:01 27 Jul 2013

    Lennon wasn't saying this to get more money for Hooper as the deal was already done. I happen to agree with him that he's the best since Henrik. Obviously not in the same class but still the best since him all the same. Hope he does well for Norwich

  • Comment posted by ferrynuff, at 00:51 27 Jul 2013

    @ Hibs88
    Don't think you or your ilk have much room to nit pick after your result last night, do you?
    Hooper: 63 goals in 95 SPL games
    Griffiths: 31 in 65
    Higdon: 73 in 195
    McKay: 26 in 60

    So then, who's top out of that lot, eh??? Stop cheating by referring to last season only.

  • Comment posted by U15701040, at 15:43 27 Jul 2013

    #32 You are a pathetic person.

  • Comment posted by martin, at 15:40 27 Jul 2013

    NL This is a step too far Hooper and Henrick even in the same sentence is so far from reality. Gary did not have the same opposition to deal with and if we are being honest had apoor end to the season and should have been Scotland's Scotlantop scorer. Fools and money in this case are right we have just robbed the English Well done

  • Comment posted by robbo-g, at 13:18 27 Jul 2013

    i dont know if Gary Hooper can be as dangerous in the EPL as he was in the SPL but if he can then Norwich have got the bargain of bargains but as we have seen with Jelavic its not as simple as that. Celtic havent got a particularly good deal but 12.5 mill for wanyama who has been outstanding too i think just about evens it out

  • Comment posted by machino, at 12:35 27 Jul 2013

    I don't see why some people(outwith jealous Rangers fans)have become perturbed by Lenny's assessment...the price Celtic have received for a player with only one year lert on his contract would back-up the headline...Hooper was Celtic and the Spl's best striker since Larsson.

  • Comment posted by celtic_craig123, at 11:26 27 Jul 2013

    @25 You're right. I live in London and so many Celtic fans are all over the place. Tip though ... if you have Sky, BBC1 or BBC2 Scotland and you can watch it. They are up in the 900s ... so be careful! LOL.

  • Comment posted by saffron67, at 11:04 27 Jul 2013

    I have another word im sure lots of people could help you with.............
    Liquidation tee hee

  • Comment posted by Michael, at 10:20 27 Jul 2013

    @newco_pacific_shelf "Never has there been a more deluded team/club/fans in the history of sport." Apart from your own then i take it. Well the old one anyway. Will we see you at CP this season? I mean you love commenting on the Hoops, why not just give in and come see us playing. Who knows you might even see what the CL looks like.
    How does that song go again? Oh yeah YOU just cant get enough

  • Comment posted by U14749909, at 10:16 27 Jul 2013

    @16 Trolls read what they want to read i'm afraid

  • Comment posted by saffron67, at 10:12 27 Jul 2013

    You would think people who take the time to comment would at least read what he said. No where does he compare but i forgot its neil lennon so there too busy frothing at the mouth.

  • Comment posted by Ped, at 09:10 27 Jul 2013

    @ hibs88

    What about europa lge any1 but hibs could score in that?
    MALMO scored 7 in there last game says it all really

  • Comment posted by celtic_craig123, at 09:01 27 Jul 2013

    We do need to get a striker in. Easier said than done though. SPL football is a limited attraction. CL football much more attractive, but we have to qualify. Frankly, against a team well into its domestic season, we could struggle next week. I love our club, but its not easy for us ... never is. Maybe that's why we make the most of games like Barcelona. Such victories are won the hard way.

  • Comment posted by tomfer, at 07:09 27 Jul 2013

    Have to agree with alphonse1949 , how can anybody seriously mention Hooper and Larsson in the same sentence , other than to say that no way was Hooper anywhere near as good as Larsson . Yes , Hooper may have scored a few goals in his time , but he was NOT the top scorer in the SPL and had an infuriating habit of squandering fantastic chances , possibly even more than he scored , in fact.

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