CELTIC face a race against time to find replacements for Victor Wanyama and Gary Hooper.

The registration deadline for players to be eligible to play in the third qualifying round of the Champions League is July 25.

That's just two days after the second leg of their second qualifying tie against Cliftonville.

The Hoops have banked £12.5m for Wanyama, less development claims and a sell-on percentage for his previous clubs.

And with QPR and Norwich battling to win the race for Hooper – the first to lay down £6m is likely to land the hot shot – Lennon's transfer kitty is set to bulge even more.

The Hoops boss accepts that, barring an unforeseen collapse in the ongoing negotiations, Hooper – who has a groin strain and is out of tonight's game – has played his last match in the Hoops.

"There are a couple of clubs interested, and the talks are ongoing, but there is no confirmation on anything yet," reported Lennon.

"I don't know what club or what price, but I would expect it to be concluded over the next week."

Lennon is desperate to beef up his strike force, as well as add another left-back and a creative midfielder.

All going well, at least some of them could be here by next week, by which time Lennon hopes Celtic will be safely into the third qualifying round.

He said: "We have identified some players and we're trying to push the button on a couple.

"It just depends on the agents, I suppose.

"I'm not going to give any names away, but we are looking seriously at the striker position now."

Kevin Doyle, Billy Sharp and Charlie Austin appear to be the names in the frame, though Lennon has a record of pulling in someone from left field while all eyes are elsewhere.

He is playing his cards very close to his chest, but did confirm reports linking the Hoops with former Barcelona and Malaga star, Javier Saviola, are wide of the mark.

Another lucrative run in the Champions League would further boost the kitty and enhance the club's profile in the attempt to lure players to Scotland.

Lennon is wary of taking his eye off the ball ahead of tonight's qualifier against Cliftonville, a match for which he will be without Hooper, Adam Matthews, Joe Ledley, Charlie Mulgrew, Virgil van Dijk and the club's latest signing, Steven Mouyokolo, who failed to beat the registration deadline.

Efe Ambrose has been fast-tracked into the squad for this tie, despite only reporting back for training on Sunday.

Lennon said: "Efe trained and he looked okay, so he is contention for a starting place.

"It probably would have been ideal for him to do a little bit of conditioning work. But, looking at him, he appears to be in good fettle."