Celtic boss Ronny Deila hopes free agent Carlton Cole can provide a different dimension to the Scottish champions’ attack.

Cole watched the 6-0 thrashing of Dundee United at Parkhead on Sunday as Celtic kept the pressure on Premiership leaders Aberdeen and will hold talks with club officials this week.

Deila currently has just Nadir Ciftci and Leigh Griffiths as options up front and he feels Cole could be a hit at Celtic if the former Chelsea, Charlton Athletic and Aston Villa striker is open to a move to Glasgow.

“He was here to look at the game,” he is quoted as saying by the Herald. “He wants to see the city and the club and meet us.

We will have talks with him and see him in training as well. Then we will see if something is going to happen or not.

“He has been in London his whole life so he has to see what he is coming to and whether he likes it. And whether we do, too. We’ll see how long he will be here for. For this week, I think.

“I think he is a very good football player. He has shown he can score goals and is different to what we have. He is a target man, very good in the air and strong. If everything fits it could be for us.

“The experience he has is also positive. He is a very positive guy – social, intelligent and can be a leader in the group.”

Cole is a free agent after leaving West Ham at the end of last season following nine years at the Boleyn Ground.

Celtic are 81.00 to win the Europa League outright and 3.50 to win Group A, which also includes Fenerbahce, Ajax and Molde.