Celtic’s new head of recruitment Gary Penrice has claimed that the Hoops are currently monitoring 240 players as they look to make quality additions to their squad this summer and going forward.

Hoops head of football operations Nicky Hammond brought in the former Leicester City, Stoke City and Everton scout last month, and despite the suspension of major footballing activities across the globe as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, he has continued to keep tabs on prospective signings.

The Celtic chief scout has been working with the Parkhead club in a consultancy basis since December, and has now been fully tasked with unearthing hidden gems.

“Celtic’s market is absolutely huge. It’s global. I am currently watching 240 players,” Penrice told Bristol Live.

“Obviously I can’t travel to see games, and there aren’t any anyway! But I can keep in contact with people. It’s actually been busy, manic, catching up with all stuff, and tapping into a huge global market.”

The Hoops recruited 10 players last summer and two during the January transfer window, and they will look to keep making quality signings going forward with Penrice’s help.

Celtic are set to win their ninth consecutive Scottish Premiership title this term having gone 13 points clear at the top of the table, and a record ten-in-a-row is on the cards for next term.

Buying players and later selling them for a profit has been Celtic’s business model for a while, and Penrice will hope to regularly help improve the quality of signings the club make going forward.