There are currently two players within Celtic's financial reach that they would ordinarily go for in an instant: Johnny Russell and Leigh Griffiths.

It seems odd, then, that Neil Lennon might end up purchasing neither this summer.

The more obvious of the two to sign for Celtic is Griffiths. It is a dead cert that Gary Hooper will no longer be at Parkhead come the end of August, in which case Lennon needs to bring in an old-fashioned poacher, a goalscorer. Yesterday Celtic let Daryl Murphy, bought for £1.5m three years ago, leave for Ipswich Town after releasing him from his contract. In all that time the Irish striker made just 10 starts for Celtic and was forever punted on loan. The Murphy experience is proof again that money can be wasted, and that, in some cases, finding a good striker is a shrewd judgement.

Some believe that Russell, a flighty, exciting footballer, was born to play for Celtic. When fit and on form this 23-year-old has goals and flair all over him. Yes, Russell is weak on his right side, which was an occasional frustration to Peter Houston, his manager at Dundee United. But, as Neil Lennon has said, some of the finest players we've seen could only play with one foot.

It isn't Russell's ability that is in doubt in the minds of Lennon and Celtic. Rather, it is where the player might fit in to the Parkhead squad. For the role of the traditional No.10 – the flair player, the "off-striker" – Lennon has both Kris Commons and James Forrest to fill the slot. Even Georgios Samaras, whatever else he is, is not an out-and-out striker, but an attacking adjunct. In other words, as much as Lennon admires Russell and may be tempted to go for him, where would he fit at Celtic? Would he be an automatic choice?

The price being demanded by Dundee United for Russell – circa £700,000 or £800,000 for a player with one season left on his contract – is easily within Celtic's budget, especially if they recoup on Hooper. It is other issues which have thus far held Celtic back on doing a deal.

With Russell bound for Derby County to sign on Monday, Celtic have two days left in which to move for the player. Stephen Thompson, the Dundee United chairman, says that a bid by Celtic is still an option. In Glasgow, though, there seems to be a lack of conviction over it.

On the basis of the last 10 months, Griffiths to many is a more likely Celtic target, given his 28 goals for Hibernian last term. But this player's future is complicated. Wolverhampton Wanderers, his parent club, are making it very obvious they want to keep him for next season and are even making loud, trumpeting noises about the fact that they see Griffiths as a future Steven Fletcher. This is known in the business as "hiking the price up". Fletcher, bought by Wolves from Burnley for £6m, was sold last year to Sunderland for £12.5m. In others words, Wolves are saying, no-one is going to take Griffiths off them on the cheap.

For a player who has played just once in two seasons for the Black Country club, there is some temerity in this. But the notices have been served. Cheques with seven digits on them will have to be written for Griffiths' services. In saying that, Celtic could afford to pay £1.5m for the player, or £2m at a push, which Hibs certainly could not. Not so long ago the Parkhead scouting intelligence encouraged Lennon to shell out £2m-plus for Mo Bangura, and what a fiasco that has turned out to be.

There is risk, on the basis of just one hot season in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, in investing significant money in Griffiths. But it would seem a risk worth taking. This striker has goals and pace and, in a time of threadbare Scottish talent, and at the price, is as good a bet as any on Lennon's radar.

The manager has a decent clutch of strikers, all with age on their side. Samaras is 28, Anthony Stokes is 24, Forrest is 21 and even Commons is still only 29. Tony Watt, the hero of that night against Barcelona, is 19, though doubts remain about whether he will go the distance at Celtic. Then there is Lassad Nouioui, the Tunisian striker, still only 26, whom some Celtic fans have taken to on the fleeting occasions they have seen him. Lassad, on a two-year deal, might yet come good in Glasgow.

But Lennon may have his work cut out in the striking department. It seems he is set to miss out on Amido Balde, the Portuguese striker, who looks bound for Crystal Palace. With Hooper almost certainly leaving, maybe even Stokes too, and with Murphy off-loaded, at least one striker of note will have to arrive at Parkhead this summer.

Celtic pride themselves on their youth academy, but the fact is, talented young kids do well at under-19 level but are then released. An emphasis remains on old fashioned transfer market buying whereby, sometimes in hasty judgement, an established first-team player elsewhere is bought for a price. Youth is prized, but experience is prized more. It has been seen time and time again. In that context, right now, two talented Scottish strikers are right in front of Celtic's nose, but the club so far has refrained.