Liverpool Scouts Watch Striker in Champions League Action - Report

Liverpool's search for a new striker has led to scouts being sent to Spain in order to watch Celtic striker Gary Hooper in action against Barcelona.

The Daily Mail has reported that Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers made the decision to send a delegation of scouts over the Camp Nou in order to watch the 24-year-old striker in action.

Liverpool's need for a new striker has become obvious in recent weeks after Fabio Borini was ruled out of action for three months, leaving Luis Suarez as the only fit senior forward available to Rodgers.

The Reds will be desperate to add some strength to their attacking line-up and it appears as though Hooper could well be an option in the January transfer window.

The 24-year-old moved to Scotland back in the summer of 2010 and he instantly made an impression as he fired 20 goals in just 26 league games.

In his second season at Celtic he once again proved to be a clinical finisher as he scored 29 goals in all competitions, which caught the eye of England Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce who named him in his 40-man provisional squad for the European Championships.

Hooper has yet to play international football but was once again mentioned as a possible future England player when Roy Hodgson named his last squad.

The Celtic striker has played in England before but has never tested himself in the Premier League, having started his career an non-league Grays before eventually making headlines at Scunthorpe.

He scored 30 goals in his first season for the club and was equally impressive in his second year as he hit 20 goals in 39 games, before being snapped up by Celtic.

Hooper may not have found the net against Barcelona, but he has scored three goals in European competition this season, including one in the surprise 3-2 win over Spartak Moscow in Russia.