Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Dubravka has been talking about the potential interest in him this summer and confirms that while he is aware of the speculation linking him with a move to the Scottish Champions as a replacement for Joe Hart, there has been no formal approach from the Hoops that he is aware of.
And only at that stage will he believe that there’s anything in the rumours but he did confirm that he was aware of Celtic interest in him from a year ago.
Dubravka is at Euro 2024 with Slovenia and is currently preparing for their opening match against Denmark – minus Matt O’Riley. The veteran 35 year-old, who has so far bee capped 43 times by his country, is likely to fall from first choice to third on return to St James’s Park as Eddie Howe welcomes back Nick Pope from injury and looks to bring in James Trafford from Burnley in a £15m deal.
The former Celtic managerial target was is prepared to let Dubravka, who played 23 times for Newcastle last season, to leave to free up some wages. And there are bound to be many teams south of the border keen on the veteran Slovenian.
On the Celtic speculation Martin Dubravka said (via Scottish Sun): “I am aware that there are rumours. Team-mates ask me about it, agents and people have called me to see if there is any truth to it.
“There was some truth in that a year ago, and you see, I stayed at Newcastle. If there is no official offer on the table, then I absolutely do not deal. I told my agents that if it was concrete and there was an offer, then only then I would consider it. At the moment, it is only in the stage of some noises.
“Of course, I pick up some news from the newspapers – we sign goalkeepers, we don’t sign, and somehow I don’t really care what happens. I just wait for the truth.”
It appears that Dubravka is a name of interest for Brendan Rodgers and looks likely to be on the short-list of potential candidates. Where he is on that list is unknown, although there are reports that the Slovenian is NOT top.
So as far as Celtic interest is concerned, it’s a case of playing for his country at Euro 2024, performing well in the shop window of the massive tournament and if he does that Dubravka should not be short of offers for what looks like the last move of his playing career.
Whether it will be to Celtic or not remains to be seen.
Sounding like any potential interest from ourselves, would drag on for some time yet, so wouldn’t say he’s actually top of our shopping list for the no1 keeper position presently imo?
With ourselves apparently showing interest in him a year ago, would indicate that Rodgers is actually looking to get 2 decent keepers into the squad now imo, and about time also?
Wouldn’t totally rule out our interest in him over the course of the window, but think more serious noise will be made elsewhere on someone else, especially whilst he’s involved within the euros imo?
So maybe we might be looking at him for the no2 keeper role ?
Especially if we could offer the opportunity of serious competition for the no1 keeper role and the choice of being the keeper for the cup competitions in the offering also imo?