Celtic, the reigning champions of the Scottish Premiership, are currently seeking a new goalkeeper as Joe Hart is set to retire at the end of the ongoing season. While their primary target is Coaimhin Kelleher, securing a deal with Liverpool for the highly regarded Irish goalkeeper is expected to be challenging and costly. Consequently, Celtic’s pursuit of an alternative goalkeeper is anticipated to be fraught with obstacles.
Reports indicate that Celtic’s preference is firmly set on Kelleher to fill Hart’s shoes. Concurrently, the club is making efforts to reduce their wage bill, parting ways with players like David Turnbull, Alexandro Bernabei, and Liel Abada since the start of the year. However, Kelleher, though their top choice, is not their sole option.
Interest in Ugurcan Cakir has also been noted. Nevertheless, enticing Cakir away from his long-standing allegiance to Trabzonspor, where he has spent a decade and even captained the team to the Turkish Super Lig title, presents a significant challenge for Celtic.
Cakir’s deep-rooted connection to Trabzonspor, as highlighted in statements expressing his childhood fandom and pride in representing the club, further complicates Celtic’s pursuit. With three years remaining on Cakir’s contract and his revered status at Trabzonspor, the Turkish club has no immediate pressure to sell. Thus, in addition to the potential £7.5 million transfer fee, Celtic must confront the daunting task of persuading Cakir to depart from his cherished childhood club.
Moreover, there’s news that former Celtic prodigy Karamoko Dembele might find himself in the Premier League next season, with interest from clubs such as West Ham, Wolves, and Everton.
