Celtic's Northern Irish coach Brendan Rodgers gestures during a press conference at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, on November 6, 2023, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League Group E football match against Club Atletico de Madrid. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP) (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP via Getty Images)
This summer, he might be heading to Celtic Park.
Despite winning a domestic double, Celtic is looking for additions this summer and might have discovered an inexpensive method to bolster their team for the upcoming year.
Rodgers’ side set for change
It would be simple for Celtic to sit back and enjoy their success after winning the Scottish Premiership and the Scottish Cup, but change seems imminent. European teams are interested in Matt O’Riley, and Kyogo might be moving this summer after Adam Idah’s successful loan—who Brendan Rodgers is eager to get on a permanent basis.
Most significantly, though, is that Brendan Rodgers’ team is searching for a new starting goalie after legendary England goalie Joe Hart announced his retirement halfway through the season, capping his career with a victory over Rangers in the Scottish Cup.
Despite initial reservations upon signing, Hart has shown to be a dependable choice in goal for Celtic in each of his three seasons with the team, with 13 clean sheets in his last season. Hart was formerly the number one player for Manchester City.
| Joe Hart’s impressive final season | |
| Appearances | 37 |
| Clean sheets | 13 |
| Save % | 70.1% |
| Saves per 90 | 1.68 |
The likes of Liverpool no.2 Caohmin Kelleher and Sunderland’s talented Anthony Patterson have been touted among those who could replace Hart at Celtic Park, but both are likely to cost well in excess of £15m, which would represent a significant outlay for Rodgers’ side.
As a result, they have reportedly been exploring the free agent market, but have been dealt a blow on that front as Belgian shot-stopper Koen Casteels is set for a move to Saudi Arabia rather than Scotland this summer. Now though, they have been offered a new opportunity to land an exciting prospect between the sticks.
Goalkeeper packing his bags
That comes as Turkish sources report that Celtic are readying a four year contract offer for Manchester United shot-stopper Altay Bayindir.
After joining the Red Devils as Andre Onana’s backup, Bayindir has only played once under Erik ten Hag and now appears to be leaving the team. The shot-stopper is “preparing to leave” the team this summer despite still having a contract that pays him £35,000 a week through 2027, according to the source, which states that his time in Manchester is “coming to an end” because he didn’t find “what he was looking for” at Old Trafford.
In order to get a deal done and get him back to the top spot, Celtic is now willing to step in and take him to Glasgow. They are supposedly going to offer him a four-year contract at Celtic Park.
Although a price is not stated, Bayindir is unlikely to fetch much more than the 5 million euros he was signed for a year ago, which may work to Celtic’s advantage.
Although it is unclear if a deal can actually be made, Bayindir will undoubtedly have a price given that Manchester United has placed nearly every player up for sale this summer.
