John Hartson backs Celtic to sign ‘very good’ striker and have Kasper Schmeichel-like success

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The goals have been raining in for Celtic ever since Kyogo Furuhashi left.

It’s a little ironic because there was a sense of disappointment to his exit and there was even more frustration from the fans when Celtic didn’t sign another striker during the January transfer window.

But since Adam Idah has been the lone senior striker, he’s netted a brace at Villa Park, scored at Fir Park and found the back of the net again as Celtic hit Dundee for six on Wednesday night.

Yes, this is only the short term and it can all change in a flash, but at least he is reacting well to being the main man now.

However, that still doesn’t hide the fact that Rodgers wants more firepower up top and he wasn’t backed by those in the boardroom last month.

It leaves Celtic in a situation where they will now have to act in the summer, but who do they bring in?

John Hartson backs Celtic to sign Kelechi Iheanacho

Kelechi Iheanacho was linked with Celtic after Kyogo’s exit, but a move didn’t materialise and he ended up on-loan at Middlesbrough from Sevilla on transfer deadline day.

John Hartson thinks it’s a deal that can be revisited and he is another player Rodgers can re-unite with after they worked together at Leicester City, as he told Go Radio.

The former Bhoys star suggested that it could be a Kasper Schmeichel-like success signing because the shot-stopper has been tremendous since replacing Joe Hart in the summer.

“The key issue to this is what Brendan did with Kasper Schmeichel,” said Hartson. “I think when you worked with a player, previously, then you know his character, his strengths and weaknesses.

“Certainly, I think Kelechi Iheanacho was very good at Leicester. I think he is one of many that Brendan could possibly sign. I like the boy. I thought he was powerful. Good player and scored goals. Maybe that link-up, then everybody will get onto that link-up, with Iheanacho and Brendan. I think he is one of a few Brendan will be looking at.”

Iheanacho’s record under Brendan Rodgers

Iheanacho isn’t an out-and-out striker, but he has played down the middle quite a lot in his career and he can also play on the flanks.

Coming through at Manchester City as a teenager, there was a lot of hype around him, and he now finds himself in England’s second tier.

If Celtic go down the road of bringing in Iheanacho in the summer, then his record under Rodgers is pretty strong, especially when you consider that all of those matches were as a Leicester player in England’s top flight, as recorded by Transfermarkt.