It seems that Celtic are being linked with a different goalkeeper every day with Joe Hart’s successor a priority issue for the club’s Recruitment Team.
The club has had four months to step up their plans with Stevie Woods likely to be heavily involved, no-one from the Lawwell family will take part in the process.
Two names are prominent in today’s drive for news with neither likely to be serious contenders for widely varying reasons.
First up is Daniel Peretz the third choice ‘keeper at Bayern Munich and likely to be on the move this summer.
Following the dramas of the season just finished that resulted in Liel Abada moving to MLS side Charlotte it is a very safe bet that no Israeli players will be moving to Celtic any time soon.
There are other factors at play but the hostility of the Israeli media to all matters Celtic make a move for Peretz a complete non-starter.
It won’t do the player or his agent any harm to be included in speculation but the reality is that it is highly unlikely that any Israeli player will be joining Celtic in the next decade
Regardless of that, picking up on a report from German site Bild the Daily Record reports:
Celtic have reportedly “enquired” about the availability of Bayern Munich goalkeeper Daniel Peretz this summer – with SIX other clubs also chasing him.
The Scottish Premiership champions are in dire need of a new No. 1 this summer after Joe Hart retired at the end of the campaign – and the Israel international has been floated as a potential recruit this summer for Brendan Rodgers side as he looks to get his side ready for the Champions League group stage. The 23-year-old signed from Maccabi Tel Aviv last summer but has failed to challenge Manuel Neuer for a starting spot at the Bundesliga giants.
Equally unlikely/ridiculous is the speculation surrounding Caoimhin Kelleher with his quotes about his future keeping the door open over a potential move to Celtic.
Reacting to praise from Jurgen Klopp during a media conference for the Irish international side The Glasgow Times reports:
And it seems a switch to Glasgow could well be on the cards if an offer materialises.
He told the media: “He had some nice words for me. I was with him for a number of years and he said ‘You became a brilliant goalkeeper in that time.’ He is going to follow my career wherever I go. He wants to see me playing and to be happy.
“The season I’ve had, I’ve played a lot of games and had that taste this season of being a number one. Whether that’s at Liverpool or elsewhere, that remains to be seen. My main focus at the moment is to be number one.
“Obviously I love playing for Ireland. A big ambition of mine is to be the number one here – obviously, that only comes hand in hand when I’m number one at the club as well. That plays a major part as well, in terms of helping my case to be Ireland number one.”
Asked if staying in the EPL was a priority of his, Kelleher gave hope to Celtic: “Obviously I don’t know what is happening yet with Liverpool, but I am open to all options. Obviously if I do move everything has to be right.
“It has to be right for myself, and that could be in England or abroad. I have to make the right decision and it has to be a good fit for myself most importantly.”
There are shades of Shay Given about this. From the moment he left Celtic for Blackburn Rovers in the summer of 1994 there was speculation over a return to Glasgow. There were plenty of sound reasons for it to happen , except that it never.
Liverpool will be looking for a fee in the region of £15m for Kelleher which is more than 50% more than Celtic’s record transfer fee, paid to PSG in 2018 for Odsonne Edouard.
The keeper will have expectations set from the Anfield dressing room, £100,000 a week is a likely expectation, if he has to settle for 80% of that it will still be way out of Celtic’s salary structure.
Despite impressing for Liverpool Kelleher will find it difficult to get an EPL club where he will start the season as first choice, the EPL is home to the elite in world goalkeeping with most top ‘keepers having the same aspirations as Kelleher.
His brother Fiacre was at Celtic a decade ago, he will know the club well and probably have an affection for them but it will be a business decision with Kelleher way outside of Celtic’s range both in terms of wages and a transfer fee.
While agents and others report interest in goalkeeping targets Celtic should be well down the road to signing next season’s first pick goalkeeper.
There was a season of chaos before Hart arrived in August 2021, the lessons from that experience is that his successor should be involved in pre-season training and playing in the matches against Ayr United and Queens Park ahead of the three high profile friendlies in the USA against DC United, Chelsea and Manchester City.
Serious scouting and investment will be required, Hart has set a high benchmark in terms of performances and leadership, this one isn’t a job for projects.
CLICK HERE for Peretz Transfermarkt profile.
CLICK HERE for two faced Keevins makes remarkable Rodgers u-turn
CLICK HERE for Santa Ponsa celebrates Celtic’s victory in the Glasgow Derby.
