Celtic are understood to be monitoring Austrian goalkeeper Nikolas Polster as interest in the 23-year-old intensifies across Europe…
The Wolfsberger AC shot-stopper has also drawn attention from English Premier League sides, with Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brentford among the clubs keeping a close eye on his development. The Scottish champions are now believed to have joined the race for his signature.
Polster touted for World Cup call up with Austria
Polster’s rising profile has even sparked suggestions he could receive a late call-up to the Austria national team’s World Cup squad.
At club level, Wolfsberger AC are facing a relegation battle, currently sitting bottom of the Austrian Bundesliga and one point behind BW Linz.
Despite their struggles, Polster has been a consistent performer, making 31 appearances this season.
Relegation could prompt the goalkeeper to seek a move elsewhere in order to continue playing top-flight football.
Celtic join Brighton & Hove Albion and St Etienne
Brighton & Hove Albion and St Etienne have also been linked with the highly rated keeper, who was named Austria’s goalkeeper of the year in 2025 and helped secure the Austrian Cup.
Reports via Daily Mail have indicated that both Celtic and Wolves view Polster as a financially viable option within their wage structures.
The young goalkeeper has previously cited Manuel Neuer and Jan Oblak as his inspirations, modelling his style on their approach.
Iheanacho’s fitness the most important thing
Meanwhile, Martin O’Neill has opened up about the prospect of Kelechi Iheanacho earning a contract extension in the summer.
Speaking after Celtic’s 2-1 victory at Easter Road on Sunday, O’Neill said: “That’s for another day. I think that the fitness element is the most important thing, and I think you have to go and prove that you’re fit, and the only way to prove it is on the field of play.”
“What he has done for us has been terrific, really terrific, particularly now, you’re looking at his overall contribution through injuries and stuff like this here, for a whole season, those are the things that I’m sure the football club would weigh up on as much as anything else.
“Although he keeps telling me he’s very, very young, time does catch up with players, although I think he’s only 29 or 30. If the club were to keep him, then it’s really to do with a proper pre-season for him, a real proper pre-season,” Martin O’Neill said.
“I think he arrived at the last moment, didn’t he, here, so he would have to do it, and I think that he would benefit greatly from that there, where you’re getting three or four weeks’ work into him before the season started, which I think he needs, obviously.”
Conor Spence
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