Eddie Howe will be picking out transfer targets already with a view to joining Celtic, reckons Murdo MacLeod.

The Parkhead hero believes the Englishman, who is understood to have verbally agreed a switch to the Hoops albeit nothing is yet announced, may already have pinpointed players he fancies bringing with him to Glasgow.

Celtic undoubtedly face an overhaul with several top players including Odsonne Edouard, Ryan Christie and Kris Ajer expected to leave this summer. So former Bournemouth boss Howe will have to work quickly to sign new stars to be ready in time for the Champions League qualifiers as well as early Premiership fixtures.

MacLeod believes Howe will already have done his due diligence with regards to the current squad, but he will also have jotted down a few names he may look to bring in.

Speaking on the Huddle podcast, MacLeod said: "I’ve felt with Eddie, if he’s been tied up with Celtic for the last six or seven weeks, then he’s been using his knowledge in England to pick out players who are going to be available to Celtic.

"Because obviously, so many people will be saying to the new manager before he even comes to Celtic, 'This one’s not going to be here and this one’s not going to be here. This one’s going, we’ll get money for them but you’ve got to go and get a new centre-back. You’ve got to get a new centre-forward. You’ve got to bring in better quality than we’ve got just now’.

"So everybody will be giving the new manager some details on who to get rid of and keep."