A major bookmaker has rather bizarrely this afternoon installed Celtic as favourites to sign Joe Hart. The ex-England International was released by Premier League side Burnley this summer after an unhappy spell at the club. Now Ladbrokes have made Celtic odds-on favourites to sign the former Manchester City keeper just as a deal for Vasilias Barkas edges close to completion. The AEK Athens keeper fly to Glasgow last night to undergo a medical and this this is obviously information that the bookmaker will be well aware of.
The former England goalkeeper, who struggled with playing time with the Clarets, this afternoon become the subject of a ‘book’ being opened on his next club – with very surprisingly the Scottish Champions leading the field at 4/5.
Bookmakers react to money being placed and it certainly looks like Ladbrokes have taken more than a few quid on Celtic signing the former England goalkeeper, seen here with Fraser Forster at Hampden a few minutes after Leigh Griffiths had scored TWO stunning free-kicks against him in 2 minutes!
The 33-year-old has 75 caps to his name as well as two English Premier League titles, Hart is of a top pedigree. However, three moves since his Manchester City career effectively ended have proven to be unfruitful. Fraser Forster was the club’s first choice to take up the number one jersey ahead of next season but Greek goalie Barkas looks set to be confirmed in the next day or so.
Elsewhere, there are a number of clubs linked with Hart, including newly promoted Premiership duo West Ham and Leeds.
Hopefully talk of Hart arriving disappears as Barkas is confirmed, but it remains a strange one that Ladbrokes have made Celtic odds on favourites as of 4.32pm today.
West Brom remain 3/1 shots in the betting for his signature, with Leeds (9/1) being the only other side currently priced shorter than 10/1. Elsewhere, Arsenal are 12/1 to make a move, ahead of Tottenham and Sheffield United (both 16/1).
Alex Apati of Ladbrokes supplied us with this quote:
“Winning the Premier League with Man City must feel like a distant memory for Hart, but he could soon be challenging for titles north of the border next season if the betting is anything to go by.”
Here is the betting, current at 4.32pm this afternoon…
Ladbrokes Latest Betting
Joe Hart’s Next Club
4/5 – Celtic
3/1 – West Brom
9/1 – Leeds
10/1 – Any MLS Club
12/1 – Derby
12/1 – Arsenal
16/1 – Tottenham
16/1 – Sheffield United
