It’s no secret that Celtic requires major changes on the playing front in the summer transfer window, with the attacking area of our squad probably in most need of strengthening…
But one other area that is in dire need of improvement is the goalkeeping position, an area that’s been something of an Achilles heel for the past year.
Kasper Schmeichel has now hung up his gloves, and despite doing us a decent turn, it’s a year to late as he should have made that decision this time last year after the Scottish Cup Final defeat to Aberdeen.
Go back and look at the goal Kasper conceded in that game that cost us dearly in the end. It was bizarre at the time but we have a better understanding of him playing on valiantly despite the injury that wouldn’t get any better.
Viljami Sinisalo has done a decent job these past few months, there’s no doubt about that and he will want to stake his claim for the Celtic gloves early next season with a new permanent manager coming in.
If it’s Marton O’Neill, then Sinisalo is likely to get the nod. If it’s someone else he might have his on ideas and may see the Finland international shot-stopper as more of a back up option.
With Kasper gone we need to sign a goalkeeper, one that is of a calibre to compete with Viljami Sinisalo for the first team gloves. We need a new man between the sticks, one that can go straight into the side aiming to fully solidify the number one spot as his own.
Good keepers are hard to come by, but there’s a few options available out there to the club, and I’ve made a list of three who I reckon are well within our reach.
First up is Mathew Ryan
The Aussie has been linked with the club previously, and at 34 he’s still relatively young in goalkeeping terms, and more importantly he has the ability and experience to make an impact in Glasgow.
Ryan has played in the big leagues around Europe, and has won a hundred caps for Australia, and will be heading to the upcoming World Cup finals with the Socceroos, the fourth time he’s represented his nation at the competition.
He’s also the skipper of his national side, and is a very commanding and vocal figure at the back. Currently with Spanish La Liga side Levante, Mathew Ryan would be available for free due to his contract expiring next month.
Option Two is Jari De Busser
Next up is another name recently linked, and that is Go ahead Eagles shot-stopper Jari De Busser. The 6ft 3in Belgian keeper has impressed in the last couple of seasons with the Dutch side, most notably helping them to KNVB cup success last year, saving a couple of penalties in Eagles shoot out win, and this season recorded the best shot stopping numbers in the Dutch Eredivisie.
26 year old De Busser only has one year of his deal to run, so could be snared for a relatively low fee.
Third option is Dominik Livakovic
Next up is a man known to the supporters, one that many would love to see in a Celtic jersey, and that is Croatian number one Dominik Livakovic.
The 31 year old is currently contracted to Fenerbahce, but has spent the last six months on loan at former club Dinamo Zagreb, with the previous six months spent at La Liga side Girona.
Experienced at club level, and ultra experienced at international level with Croatia, Livakovic is a man who would instantly improve our side.
Clearly out of favour in Turkey, a fee of around £4 million would likely be enough to secure his signature, although he might fancy a move back to his native Croatia, but we can only ask the question.
All three would be viable options for Celtic. As things stand Jari De Busser appears to be the mostly likely of the three to be pursued by the club this summer. Watch this space for ongoing updates on Celtic Shorts, the new home of the writing staff from The Celtic Star.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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2 Comments
Regarding the 3 options you gave for a new GK, it will ALWAYS be the cheapest option, it’s the Celtic way.
Getting a new manager is essential first, the longer that goes on the less options we will have across the whole squad.
Fckn hate our board
Agreed that kasper tried to stay on a season longer than he was capable of doing so imo?
Can’t hold that against himself, when he was possibly looking at trying to finish his career, at the prospect of a world cup finals? Still suspect that he was granted a contract, that allowed for such a prospect for himself, which should never have been allowed, if such an arrangement was allowed for himself imo?
Anyway, we currently have sinisalo as no 1, with Doohan as no 2, and helping to fill our homegrown quota requirements?
Could that remain the same, with a potential youngster from within, filling the 3rd choice keeper position?
Don’t think so myself, as we could well do with strengthening in the overall keepers position imo?
Which in turn asks the question as to whether Sinisalo and Doohan, would remain as been content with the prospect of maybe staying as 2nd and 3rd choices, with very little to no game time on offer for ourselves?
Again another managerial decision awaits, without no-one in position to be making them at present?
Many such decisions are awaiting throughout our squad at present, hence the importance of getting a manager in position, in order to start making such decisions imo?
Believe MoN will be currently having a big imput upon where players stand, with there intentions, going forward with there careers?
But speculation won’t count for nothing, until a manager is officially in place, to start making the managerial decisions that’s required for ourselves?
Hopefully they won’t include any guarantees within contact situations, as every player has to earn the right to wear our jersey imo?