Gary Hooper: Norwich in line to beat QPR in race NORWICH City look set to usurp Queens Park Rangers" move for Celtic striker Gary Hooper after the East Anglian club agreed a fee with the Parkhead outfit and the player was reported to have passed a medical. QPR, relegated to the English Championship at the end of last season, had also agreed a fee, believed to be £5 million, with the Scottish Champions on Wednesday. And Rangers manager Harry Redknapp had said he did not expect to encounter any late hitches. It looks like it's on its way to being done. Negotiations have gone well," he told BBC Scotland. But Norwich swooped and can offer the 25-year-old Englishman the extra incentive of playing in the Barclays Premier League. Hooper has netted 82 goals in three years since signing for Celtic from Scunthorpe in a £2.4m deal in 2010 and came off the bench as Celtic eased into the third qualifying round of the Champions League at the expense of Cliftonville on Tuesday night. He scored 31 goals for the Scottish champions last season and has been Celtic's top scorer in each of the last three seasons. He has one year remaining on his contract and Celtic wanted to cash in before it ran down. Norwich boss Chris Hughton has been pursuing Hooper for some time. And Hughton, who is currently in the United States with his players preparing for the new season, will now hope the club can agree personal terms and that Hooper will complete a medical before sealing the deal. Asked about the former Scunthorpe striker in the wake of a 1-0 defeat by Portland Timbers during the early hours of yesterday morning, Hughton said: "We are still working very hard. It is very difficult for me with the time difference, but even with the conversations I am having with the chief scout it is trying to find the right times. Nothing imminent, but we are still working.