Celtic have been linked with a January move for Aston Villa striker Scott Hogan, it has been claimed.
The Bhoys suffered a 2-1 defeat at Parkhead at the hands of their bitter rivals Rangers just before the winter break, and the defeat has put a lot of pressure on Neil Lennon and the squad as they seek to defend their Premiership crown.
According to TEAMtalk, the Bhoys are looking to sign Hogan. He is currently out on loan with Championship outfit Stoke City, but has been enduring a miserable run of form.
With just 3 goals in 13 league outings, Hogan has had a torrid time with Stoke, who themselves have struggled and are just a point above the relegation zone.
The report further claims that the Potters are ready to let the player leave. Aston Villa are also keen on allowing the player to move on loan to Celtic.
Scott Hogan – Should Celtic go after him?
Leigh Griffiths and Vakoun Bayo have flattered to deceive this season, and their lack of output upfront has put the pressure on Odsonne Edouard.
Considering the situation with the out of form Celtic duo, Hogan could be a good signing for the Hoops as their attacking department does need more quality in the coming months. He has the experience under his belt, and can fit well in Lennon’s system.
The 27-year-old managed 21 goals in 36 games for Brentford, which earned him the £12million move to the Villa Park in the January transfer window of 2017. However, his time at Villa was underwhelming.
Hogan has managed to find the back of the net on just 10 occasions from 61 games in all competitions for the Midlands outfit. Two poor loan spells at Sheffield United and Stoke City have followed since.
The Republic of Ireland international is short on confidence, and to rediscover his former self, he needs a fresh start, and more importantly, regular playing time.
He could do well with support from the attacking midfielders and wingers in Ryan Christie, Mikey Johnston, James Forrest and Mohamed Elyounoussi, but considering he won’t be Celtic’s first choice, playing time will be irregular.
While Celtic have shown that they often perform when the going gets tough, signing another forward to ensure they don’t fall behind Steven Gerrard’s side makes perfect sense. However, it’s a tricky one with Hogan as he hasn’t performed well of late, and won’t be a guaranteed success.
