Celtic boss Neil Lennon eyes two new strikers in January window with Andraz Sporar and Billy Sharp targets

Neil Lennon is determined to boost Celtic’s nine-in-a-row bid by signing TWO new strikers in the January window.

Beaten at Celtic Park by Rangers a week ago, the Hoops need no telling they are in a title race.

They still lead their rivals by two points at the top of the Premiership table, but Steven Gerrard’s men have a game in hand, a home match against St Johnstone.

Having watched his £9-million man, Odsonne Edouard, forced to carry too much of the load in the first half of the season, the Celtic manager has moved swiftly to bring in reinforcements.

Talks are underway with his top target, £5m-rated Slovan Bratislava star, Andraz Sporar.

The 25-year-old has a haul of 20 goals in 26 appearances for club and country this season, and the Slovenian internationalist has also attracted the interest of Dynamo Kiev and Bristol City.

Described in his home country as having a style similar to that of Robert Lewandowski, he would also offer the club long-term cover were Edouard to be snapped by in the summer.

Celtic are also in the process of trying to bring in Sheffield United skipper, Billy Sharp.

Now in his third spell with the Yorkshire club, the 33-year-old has been struggling for game time this season behind the likes of Oli McBurnie, and has scored just once.

While Blades boss Chris Wilder has no desire to see Sharp go, he is also on record stating he will not stand in his way if he asks to leave in search of a new challenge.

That being the case, the issue for Lennon – who still has Leigh Griffiths and Vakoun Bayo in his squad – could be persuading Sharp he would be signed to play an active part in Celtic’s domestic and European campaigns.

Rangers, for their part, want to trim their squad to free up cash for new arrivals.

However, though keen to help the likes of Greg Docherty – who spent last season on loan at Shrewsbury – find a new home, they will only listen to offers for the right players.

English Premier League clubs have been warned off making a January move for Alfredo Morelos, who has scored 28 goals in all competitions this season.

Bologna have also been linked with the Colombian, but the same would apply for the Serie A outfit, and any other suitors.

Newcastle United will likewise not be encouraged to act on their admiration for club skipper, James Tavernier.

Former Rangers striker Kyle Lafferty is set for a return to the Premiership with Hearts, another of his old clubs.

The Northern Ireland internationalist is a free agent, having reached the end of a stint in Norway with Sarpsborg, and has been contacted about the possibility of a move back to Edinburgh.