After a few struggles in the 2023/24 Scottish Premiership campaign, Celtic and the manager Brendan Rodgers have now admirably battled back to give themselves a three point advantage at the top of the table as we hit the true business end of the current campaign.
Having lost an earlier advantage, we are at least back in pole position as we enter the final games and the month of May, but it is set to be a big summer for us on a variety of fronts – not least already having the knowledge that we will have to replace a key player, in the shape of goalkeeper Joe Hart.
For those fans who like a flutter, there will be endless available best odds with this SBK offer on who we might chose to be his replacement for the coming season, but as things stand, nobody knows what the club intends to do.
The 37 year old, 75 capped former England international, made the move to Parkhead back in the summer of 2021 and as well as truly re-discovering his form between the sticks – one of his reflexive saves at the weekend, against Hearts was like watching the Joe Hart of old – he has had good success with us and will hopefully bring the final curtain down on his long playing career by adding another two winners medals to his tally.
By the time the season ends he will have crashed through the 150 starting appearances milestone at Celtic Park as well, and it is an achievement that should also be noted.
Having previously announced his retirement a few months back, it obviously leaves us looking for a capable replacement, and whilst we have already seen some transfer window rumour mill speculation when it comes to next season’s new safe pair of hands, it is fair to say that most of the claims probably will not have really excited fans.
What we really need is a long term solution, but equally, someone who can equally play their part in helping a younger choice stopper be a more than competent back up in the process; in short, we need to sign someone who can do the job on the first day, not some project to grow into it.
Everyone will appreciate that this is a difficult balancing act as Celtic demand success, wins and trophies, and the one position on the football field that you do not instinctively mess with is the goalkeeper for a whole variety of different reasons, and that is before you even consider defensive understanding amongst the rest of the team.
(It helps that we might be looking at at a defensive rebuild at the same time, I think.)
Our longer term interests would be better suited by a younger goalkeeper who has already proven themselves, and whilst there are a few minimal exceptions, most of our links are to stoppers who will be considering retirement in the next few years themselves.
Yes, they have the experience, knowledge and the demonstrable CV’s which will give us confidence in the here and now, but it is short term thinking, and recent links to Asmir Begovic are no different.
The hugely experienced 36 year old probably needs little introduction to most fans who pay attention to the wider world of football. He made his name at Stoke City, and has gone on to play for Chelsea, AC Milan, Everton and is now with Queens Park Rangers. He also gaine 63 caps for his country.
His contract is up at the end of the year and he is bound to have suitors, and apparently we might be one of them, but again whilst he may be the cheaper option as a free agent, realistically we would be looking at two seasons only, and then we’d be facing this question all over again.
And although he would be a cheaper option than us having to pay someone a big fee, his experience would make him a big earner on a wage front.
Surely it is time for us to think further into the future.
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