Celtic are reportedly monitoring Trabzonspor number one, Uğurcan Çakır, with a view to making a move for him this summer transfer window. Former England international Joe Hart is set to retire at the end of this current campaign and the Hoops will definitely be in the market for a replacement, with Brendan Rodgers even hinting we could see multiple moves on the ‘keeper front at the end of this season too.
Joe Hart at the final whistle Aberdeen v Celtic, Cinch Scottish Premiership – 3rd February 2024 Photo: Mark Runnacles/Shutterstock
Hart has been excellent in the main for the Hoops since he was brought in from the footballing wilderness during his tenure bench surfing in the English Premier League for several years. Never really finding somewhere to call his own after the heady days as a Premeir League winner with Manchester City and serving his country as the first choice goalkeeper, Ange Postecoglou gave him an opportunity back in 2021 and he’s not looked back since.
Now coming to the end of a glittering career at the highest levels in the game, Hart will be hoping that he can help steer this crop of Celtic players to another title – bowing out in style as a three-in-a-row winner of the Scottish Premiership. The big man has been influential and Brendan Rodgers will have a job on his hands finding someone of Joe’s ilk but that is the task that awaits this close-season.
Wales’ defender #03 Neco Williams shoots past Turkey’s goalkeeper #23 Ugurcan Cakir and scores his team first goal during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group D qualifying football match between Wales and Turkey, at Cardiff City Stadium, in Cardiff, on November 21, 2023. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Many names have been mentioned so far, with Real Madrid’s Andriy Lunhin and Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher seeming to be very prominent amongst media outlets both in Scotland and England. However, it remains to be seen just how much substance there is to those claims as both men would command substantial outlays in terms of transfer fees and could potentially put them out of range for the Bhoys.
Turkey’s goalkeeper #23 Ugurcan Cakir kicks the ball during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group D qualification football match between Croatia and Turkey at the OPUS Arena Stadium in Osijek, on October 12, 2023. (Photo by DENIS LOVROVIC/AFP via Getty Images)
This latest name in Çakır could prove to be interesting as he is 27-years-old and is capped by Turkey. Added to this is his position of captain at the Turkish outfit and a lot of boxes would be ticked when judging him on paper as a replacement for Hart. Turkish outlet Günebakiş reports that research into how much a possible transfer would cost and salary demands have begun by the Scottish Premiership Champions ahead of the season ending in June.
Paul Gillespie