Celtic are poised to step up their interest in Lorient striker Mohamed Bamba.
The Parkhead club are desperately trying to bolster their squad for the title run-in.
Martin O’Neill has made no secret of their need to strengthen at the top end of the pitch.
Reports in France have now claimed that Bamba is the subject of a loan bid from Celtic.
It is understood that Celtic would have an option to buy the 24-year-old Ivorian in the summer.
Celtic have been linked with West Ham’s Callum Wilson, Hibs star Kieron Bowie, Chelsea’s David Datro Fofana, and Motherwell’s Tawanda Maswanhise so far in January.
Celtic are looking at a loan deal for Lorient striker Mohamed Bamba in an effort to strengthen their squad for the title run-in
Of those names, it is understood that Bamba, Fofana and Maswanhise would be the most likely to join the club before the end of the window.
O’Neill’s men laboured to victory against junior side Auchinleck Talbot in the Scottish Cup on Sunday.
On the need for reinforcements, the Celtic boss said: ‘Hopefully we will get the players in before the end of the season.
‘We’ve a fair idea of what we need to do [in the window] and I want to get on with it.’
Celtic had also been linked with a move for Leeds United forward Joel Piroe last week, but that never got off the ground.
It is understood that Leeds chiefs were baffled by Celtic’s enquiry, given that the Elland Road club share a direct connection to Rangers through the 49ers Enterprises ownership.
It leaves Celtic still scrambling around searching for new players, with no recruitment structure in place whatsoever.
O’Neill spoke last week about the club’s lack of expertise in this area, with the 73-year-old having to do much of the legwork himself.
Celtic will be back in action next weekend when they face a pivotal clash against title rivals Hearts at Tynecastle.
