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Three goalkeepers who Celtic could target in the summer to replace Joe Hart
Celtic fans have been met with the major news today that Joe Hart has decided to retire from professional football at the end of the season.
The former England international has decided to hang his gloves up after three years of service at Parkhead, in which he has claimed two Scottish Premiership titles, a couple of Scottish League Cups and one Scottish Cup as part of Ange Postecoglou’s treble-winning side in 2022/23.
Brendan Rodgers has signified his presence at Parkhead and within the wider game will be sorely missed amid his commendable haul of achievements.
Speaking to official club media, the Irishman added: “For all he has done in football, Joe deserves huge praise and congratulations; he has been such a brilliant asset to Celtic, of course, and the wider game at the highest levels, domestically and internationally.”
So far, Hart has made 138 appearances for Celtic in all competitions, conceding 128 goals and keeping 59 clean sheets, per Transfermarkt.
Looking ahead, there is still the chance for him to add a domestic double to his collection; nevertheless, questions will already be in circulation over his potential replacement.
Without further ado, 67 Hail Hail looks at three stoppers who could fill the void that Hart will leave between the sticks.
Caoimhin Kelleher is the obvious candidate for Celtic
Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher’s name has been widely mentioned in connection with Celtic for several years amid his ongoing battle for regular minutes at Anfield.
Despite now being 25 years of age, the Republic of Ireland international has made just 36 appearances for the Reds under Jurgen Klopp, obtaining 12 shutouts in total [Transfermarkt].
Nevertheless, the financial side of any deal may be tricky to negotiate, with reports earlier this year claiming that it could cost as much as £20 million to lure the Cork-born man away from Merseyside.
His weekly wage is also believed to be out of the Bhoys’ reach, potentially eradicating any notion of a loan deal, though Celtic have been known admirers of Kelleher’s talent for quite some time.
Andriy Lunin has previously been linked with Celtic move
Admittedly, in terms of ambition, Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin would rank at the very top of the scale as a Celtic target; however, there is a coherent reason why he has been included, so bear with me.
The Ukraine international has started his side’s last five La Liga fixtures, conceding just three goals in the process [Fotmob].
Links between Lunin and a move to the Scottish Premiership holders stretch as far back as last October when The Daily Record noted that he was among a clutch of options that Rodgers and company were assessing as a future successor to Hart.
Upon further examination, the 25-year-old has featured just 35 times for Real Madrid in a six-year spell at the Santiago Bernabeu and is out of contract next summer [Transfermarkt].
Once Thibaut Courtois returns from his long-term anterior cruciate ligament injury, Lunin’s future may look very different in the Spanish capital [ESPN].
That isn’t to say Celtic will swoop for his signature; however, we’re allowed to dream a little, right?
Fraser Forster has a long association with Celtic
Tottenham Hotspur stopper Fraser Forster has a long association with Celtic and will forever be heralded due to his incredible exploits on both the domestic and European scene during two spells that spanned a combined five years.
The 35-year-old famously earned the nickname ‘La Gran Muralla’ for his imperious displays against Barcelona in the Champions League while resembling something of a man-mountain in the goalframe, standing 6 foot 7 inches tall.
All in, the Hexham-born man played 234 times for the Bhoys, recording 185 clean sheets, per Transfermarkt.
His performance against Rangers in the 2019 edition of the Scottish League Cup final was one of the most memorable cases of individual heroics seen at the club, as he made a series of incredible saves to ensure his side’s name was inscribed on the trophy.
Forster also set the Scottish Premiership record for the longest time ever not to concede a single goal; 1,256 minutes [Celtic FC official website].
However, he did pen a contract extension until 2025 at his current employers back in December. Yet, his pre-existing relationship with Celtic does provide some intriguing food for thought [BBC Sport].
