Celtic would be the perfect fit for departing Burnley goalkeeper Joe Hart, with Matt Murray telling talkSPORT (29 June, 12.30pm) that he would be a ‘top class’ signing for the Scottish Premiership champions.
At the age of 33, an England international of 75 caps is looking to breathe fresh life into his ailing career before it is too late.
It is about six years now since Hart was seen as one of the world’s finest shot-stoppers, with his reputation taking a battering ever since he was left red faced by an Andrea Pirlo Panenka at Euro 2014.
Spells at Torino, West Ham and Burnley have not gone to plan but, according to the Mail (27 June, back page), Celtic are willing to offer Hart the chance to get himself back on track north of the border once loanee Fraser Forster returns to Southampton.
And Murray, a former Wolves goalkeeper who has known Hart for years, believes this would be an inspired piece of business for everyone concerned.
“It doesn’t surprise me that a club of Celtic’s size are in for Joe with the CV he’s got. Joe wants to go somewhere and be part of a project. Celtic is a huge, huge club, one of the biggest in the world,” he says.
“Some might say things about the level of the SPFL but he could still win things – ‘ten in a row’ and those Champions League nights.
“I don’t think they will be able to keep Forster so I think Hart would be a great fit all round. I think there’s been a bit of disrespect for Joe, with the things he’s won.
“A top class keeper and a top class person.”
The Mail points out that Celtic will only make a concrete offer for Hart once it becomes clear that Forster will not be returning for a third spell at Parkhead.
And with both Angus Gunn and Alex McCarthy making memorable errors at Southampton, it would be little surprise of Ralph Hasenhuttl decided to hand Fraser a second chance on the South Coast after perhaps the best season of his life in Glasgow.
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