Cottagers plan Parkhead raid

Fulham boss Martin Jol will reportedly test Celtic's resolve by launching a move for striker Gary Hooper.

The Scottish champions have so far stood firm on Hooper and rejected a £7million bid from newly-promoted Southampton for the forward earlier this year. The Saints have since secured Jay Rodriguez from Burnley and are unlikely to return with an improved offer for Hooper and Jol now hopes he can capture the Celtic star, who grabbed 29 goals in 49 appearances last season. Jol has already secured the services of forwards Hugo Rodallega and Mladen Petric this summer but the Dutchman admits he is still seeking to strengthen his frontline following the exits of Orlando Sa, Bobby Zamora, Pavel Pogrebnyak and Andy Johnson. The SPL outfit are eager to keep hold of Hooper, who moved to Parkhead in a £2.4million deal from Scunthorpe in 2010, but Celtic boss Neil Lennon has previously conceded he could be forced to cash in on one or two of his big names this summer to fund his own transfer plans. It remains to be seen how much Fulham will need to bid to convince Celtic to part company with the 24-year-old but Jol will almost certainly have to offer more than £7million if he is to secure the services of Hooper for the coming campaign.