Gunners: Simpson nets twice during his Arsenal debut
Jay Simpson is a reported transfer target for Celtic. The Arsenal striker, currently on loan at Queens Park Rangers, has scored 11 goals in 21 games in a troubled season for the west London side.
The 21-year-old has caught the eye of Tony Mowbray, who watched Simpson in action for QPR, and the Celtic boss is keen to bring the quick-paced forward to the SPL.
Mowbray has first hand experience of working with the youngster during a loan spell at West Brom last season, although Simpson scored only one goal in the league and the Baggies were unable to avoid the drop.
However Mowbray believes Simpson, a former England youth international, still has the potential to be a success in the SPL where his side remains a work a progress.
The Celtic boss knows it is unlikely that he can retain the services of star striker Robbie Keane at the end of the season and may be looking to add more pace up front at a bargain.
Simpson has spent most of his professional career on-loan having played just once for the Gunners, where he scored two goals, before being shipped out to Millwall for the 2007/2008 season. In 41 appearances he netted six times for the Lions then joined West Brom for four months prior to his stint at QPR.
The chances of breaking into the Arsenal side look slim and QPR may be first in line to sign the striker, but for Simpson the prospect of joining a big club like Celtic and the possibility of European football may be decisive in his future should the Hoops make an approach in the summer.
Mowbray recruited eight players during the January transfer window, including Danish forward Morten Rasmussen, but with loan signings Keane and Diomansy Kamara set to leave at the end of the summer, Mowbray may be looking to fill the void left by their possible departures.
