Lawwell is close to finalising deals for Scunthorpe striker Gary Hooper and Israel midfielder Biram Kayal, while veteran England goalkeeper David James is expected in Glasgow for signing talks following his departure from Portsmouth.

Kayal, 22, is set to arrive from Maccabi Haifa and Celtic will seek to tie up their lengthy pursuit of Hooper, also 22, who has netted 50 goals in two seasons for Scunthorpe.

Hooper's Iron team-mate, Michael O'Connor, claims his boyhood idols are signing a better striker than Scott McDonald, who left Parkhead for Middlesbrough in January after a prolific two-and-a-half-year spell.

Northern Ireland international O'Connor told Press Association Sport: "He is one of the best players I have played with, he is different class.

"If he goes to Celtic I will put a few quid on him to be top scorer in Scotland next season. I think he will get 25 to 30 goals up there.

"He scored 20 in the Championship last season even though he missed out on around 16 games.

"Rob Jones, who used to play for Hibs, thinks along the same lines.

"Hoops is small, stocky, strong, quick off the mark and has a great strike.

"He is the same build as Scott McDonald but he is a better player, he has a better strike on him. He will score more goals than him."

Hooper will join Daryl Murphy as a newcomer in the Celtic strikeforce and the former Sunderland forward put himself in the frame for a place against Braga on Wednesday with a goal in Saturday's 4-1 friendly win at Lincoln.

Lennon also expects Cha Du-Ri and Efrain Juarez to be available for the third qualifying round tie along with fellow newcomers Joe Ledley and Charlie Mulgrew.

Murphy will join Georgios Samaras, Marc-Antoine Fortune, Morten Rasmussen and Paul McGowan in competition for a striking place in Portugal.

Hooper's arrival will further boost Lennon's forward line but the Celtic manager would have been encouraged to hear Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp admit he may have to offload Robbie Keane, who netted 16 goals in 19 games on loan at Celtic Park last season.

"Robbie is a fantastic professional, who trains hard and wants to play," Redknapp said.

"I still think he has a lot to offer. The thing is he wants to play all the time.

"There is every chance he could start the season, but if it doesn't work out then I am sure he will be the first one to come and tell me that he needs to play somewhere."