According to a recent rumor, Celtic may be getting close to acquiring their first summer player after their bid for a long-term target was accepted. Celtic desire a new goalkeeper.
After winning the Scottish Premiership and the Scottish Cup in the previous season, the Hoops and Brendan Rodgers have not yet made a summer addition, but replacing Joe Hart in goal with a new goalkeeper seems to be at the top of the list.
A winger and a striker are also desired at Parkhead in addition to a shot-stopper, although there hasn’t been a shortage of targets for goalkeepers.
Among the goalkeepers connected to the Hoops are Ugurcan Cakir, Anthony Patterson of Southampton, Michael Zetterer of Werder Bremen, Alex McCarthy of Southampton, Koen Casteels of Wolfsburg, and Dominik Livakovic.
A bid of €9 million (£7.6 million) has been made to bring Fenerbahce’s Livakovic to Scotland, sparking speculation about a possible transfer. Livakovic has been starting for Croatia at Euro 2024.
Celtic have Livakovic bid accepted
The player wants to leave Fenerbahce this summer, and Celtic has accepted his offer, according to Turkish site Fotomac. The €9 million amount was brought up once more, and it is said that a formal statement would be made soon.
Mattia Perin from Juventus is expected to replace Livakovic at Fenerbahce. Should a transfer materialize, Livakovic would become one of Celtic’s most costly acquisitions ever. Looks like Celtic may be on the verge of landing a big-name goalkeeper.
Croatian football analyst Richard Wilson told The Herald what he may offer to Scotland, emphasizing that his primary skill is his ability to make reaction saves.
“His reflex saves are his greatest asset, and he has a knack for reaching shots that ninety percent of goalies miss.” At that level, there’s not much separating a competent goalie from a great goalie, and he has demonstrated among the absolute elite’s reflexes.
Wilson continued by saying that the Hoops might make a “statement signing” if he joins Celtic.
“Signing a goalie of his caliber would undoubtedly make a statement for Celtic. Fenerbahce will profit from having spent nearly 7 million euros on him last summer, but if you compare Livakovic’s stature to Joe Hart’s, well, Joe Hart hasn’t advanced to the World Cup semifinals, for example.
With a trophy cabinet that large, he is among the few goalkeepers Celtic might bring in. Though Celtic has previously expressed interest in him, so it makes sense to me that they are doing so again.
In the upcoming weeks, this one should be closely monitored as it might not be long until Celtic land their man.