Liverpool scouts track £7m SPL Golden Boot winner

Liverpool are once again being linked with a move for Celtic striker Gary Hooper.

The 24-year-old Englishman - who won the Golden Boot in the Scottish Premier League last season - has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield over the past month, with Bhoys boss Neil Lennon forced to ‘poo-poo’ the speculation at the end of last week.

However, fresh reports in The Daily Mail claim that Liverpool sent a scouting delegation to Barcelona on Tuesday night, with Brendan Rodgers considering a January move for the former Grays Athletic star.

Liverpool are short of options in attack this season, with Luis Suarez the only senior forward currently on the club’s books despite a European adventure in the Europa League.

Fabio Borini has failed to hit the ground running, and a fractured right ankle has put the Italian out of action for three months on Merseyside. Andy Carroll, who cost the Reds £35 million last January, is also away from the club on loan at West Ham.

Previous reports in the Metro have claimed that Rodgers will have to pay £7 million to bring Hooper to Liverpool in the January transfer window, but with the Hoops appearing unwilling to sell, that figure could easily increase.