Celtic are eyeing a move for Falkirk star Barney Stewart, with signing a new striker now a priority in the summer transfer window.

Hoops set out to sign new striker as title race heats up

Three may have become two in the Scottish Premiership title race, as Hearts defeated Rangers 2-1 at Tynecastle at the weekend, moving seven points clear of the Ibrox outfit, with just three games left to play.

An enthralling end to the campaign is on the cards, and the Hoops are still very much in contention to finish in first place, given that they are just three points behind the league leaders, although they have a worse goal difference, which could end up being a factor.

However, having won the title at a canter for the vast majority of the past decade, the Glasgow giants clearly have work to do in the summer transfer window, and bringing in a new centre-forward is now a priority.

Celtic eyeing move for Falirk star Barney Stewart

That is according to a report from Football Insider, which also states Celtic are now plotting a move for Falkirk striker Stewart, with it noted the 22-year-old has a better goals per 90 record in the Scottish Premiership than Daizen Maeda this season.

Maeda has ten goals to his name in 33 outings and is averaging 0.35 goals per 90, most recently finding the net in the 2-1 victory against Hibernian to keep the pressure on Hearts in the Scottish Premiership title race.

The Falkirk marksman, on the other hand, has made a stellar start since returning from a loan spell with Dunfermline during the January transfer window, scoring eight times in his opening 14 league matches, and he has averaged 0.54 goals per 90.

Manager John McGlynn was blown away after the 22-year-old scored a hat-trick against Hibernian, saying: "We took him from Heriot-Watt University and he scored a couple of goals for us in the Championship. He then gets that injury in pre-season, tears a metatarsal which means he's not played for a long time.

"It was ideal for him to go to Dunfermline, come back and his personality is amazing. He's got to stay in the right place today to get goals and that's what we've been missing. I couldn't be happier for him and for everyone involved. It is incredible, absolutely incredible."

Much like the Scottish Premiership title race, the Golden Boot race could also go down to the wire, with Benjamin Nygren just two goals behind Tawanda Maswanhise as the season approaches its climax.

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