Finding a player capable of stepping into the shoes of a man so experienced, so reliable, so frequently brilliant, is likely to be one of the biggest – if not the biggest – challenges facing Celtic this summer.
Joe Hart may be no spring chicken these days at the age of 37.
But, if the wonder-save he pulled off with the score still 1-0 against Hearts a fortnight ago is anything to go by, the former England international is bowing out, not quite at the peak of his powers, but certainly as a man still capable of moments of show-stopping, game-turning interventions.
Joe Hart retirement means Celtic need a goalkeeper
Celtic are considering a range of replacements, young and old, proven and comparatively unknown.
HITC understands that Coaimhin Kelleher, Liverpool’s long-serving number two, is the top target. Kelleher has been valued in the region of £15 million by the Premier League giants in the recent past, however. A fee that would require Celtic to break a club-record that has stood since Odsonne Edouard made his move from Paris Saint-Germain permanent in 2018.
Viljami Sinisalo, the Aston Villa youngster, would be far more affordable, certainly, but a risk too. Celtic have also been linked with Etienne Vaessen of RKC Waalwijk and Brondby’s Patrick Pentz. Neither would arrive at Parkhead with the same vast experience as Hart, or with the Manchester City icon’s knowledge of the British game.
Another name to keep an eye on, meanwhile, is that of Ugurcan Cakir. HITC have been told that Celtic have been watching the Turkey international this season.
Cakir arguably sits closer to the centre in that Venn diagram of goalkeepers than most.
Trabzonspor open to Ugurcan Cakir exit
At 28, Cakir has been playing at the top level for years. He knows what it takes to succeed domestically too, captaining Trabzonspor to their first Super Lig title in decades back in 2022. As for his price-tag, reportedly in the region of £8 million, it is certainly not pocket change.
But nor is it likely to break the bank for a Celtic side who should have money to spend after some big-money departures in recent transfer windows.
Trabzonspor president Ertogrul Dogan, speaking to A Spor this week, gave Celtic’s hopes of a deal for Cakir a boost. The Turkey international ‘has a dream’ of making his mark outside of Turkey, and the team from the banks of the Black Sea will not stand in his way should an acceptable offer arrive.
“Ugurcan is our brother. He is a very good Trabzonspor player. A real Trabzonspor player,” explains 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.”
Cakir was once labelled a ‘world-class’ shot-stopper by Ali Kemal Denizci, the Trabzonspor icon who felt his old employers should demand a fee in the region of £40 million.
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