Surely any Celtic target who tuned into those jubilant celebrations on Wednesday night – Brendan Rodgers’ side securing yet another Scottish Premiership title as a haze of green descended over Glasgow – would have been watching on thinking something along the lines of; ‘I fancy a bit of that’.
This could hardly have been a better way, meanwhile, for Joe Hart to bring the curtain down on a fabulous career.
The battle-scarred goalkeeper – retiring this summer even if he still has so much left to give at the age of 37 – added another clean sheet to his collection as Celtic cruised past Kilmarnock 5-0 at Rugby Park. A result which ensures The Hoops cannot be caught on final day.
“This is everything. What a season, what a tough season,” Hart beamed, determined to hold back the tears. “I decided I was going to call it a day, I didn’t know if people would understand what I was trying to say when I was saying it but it means absolutely everything to be standing here with these guys.
“I love everything about this club, I’ve loved every minute of it, and we’re here to win trophies.
“I’ll hopefully be comfortable about talking about it soon, but I don’t want to be blubbering on the football pitch.”
Celtic need a goalkeeper to replace Joe Hart
Finding a man with the nous, the stature and the raw shot-stopping ability to step into Hart’s shoes will, obviously, be one of the main challenges facing Celtic this summer. Michael Zetterer has already removed his name from the frame with a new contract at Werder Bremen, while top target Caomhin Kelleher may be a little on the expensive side.
Kelleher, who HITC understands Celtic are big fans of, has previously been valued in the region of £15 million by Liverpool.
Celtic may have to cast their net a little wider, then. A club who have enjoyed some success in the Eredivisie market before – see Giorgios Giakoumakis and Virgil van Dijk – could reportedly return to the Netherlands in search of another bargain buy.
Dutch publication Brabants Dagblad report that there is ‘concrete interest’ from Celtic in RKC Waalwijk glovesman Etienne Vaessen.
And when asked by Voetbal International this week if his 209th RKC appearance would also be his last, Vaessen – who wears a Petr Cech-like skull cap after being knocked unconscious earlier this season – responded with three short but very telling words.
‘I hope so’.
Etienne Vaessen opens door to Hoops move
Clearly, the 28-year-old feels the time is right for a fresh start after nearing a decade in the RKC first-team. 6ft 2ins Vaessen will be a free-agent in July.
It is not out of the question, meanwhile, that Celtic opt to bring in more than one new goalkeeper this summer, neither Scott Bain nor Benjamin Siegrist trusted as reliable back-ups. Vaessen, should he arrive on a free, would ensure there are plenty of funds left over for Rodgers to bring in another potential number one.
Celtic have been linked with Southampton veteran Alex McCarthy. HITC understands there is interest in Trabzonspor captain Ugurcan Cakir too. One of the more expensive Celtic targets at a reported £8 million, the 2022 Super Lig champions are open to letting their skipper go for the right price.
“Ugurcan is our brother. He is a very good Trabzonspor player. A real Trabzonspor player,” explains Trabznspor president Ertugrul Dogan, who’s side are reportedly closing in on Rangers duo Borna Barisic and John Lundstram. “Regardless of his situation, he thinks of nothing but the interests of his team.
“Of course, the player has the idea of playing in Europe. We said that, if an important offer comes, we will let him go.
“Although there is no official offer at the moment, it is true that some clubs have contacted us. Ugurcan has such a dream in his mind and we welcome it. It would be better to talk after an official offer comes.”
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