Howe might Bournemouth’s out of contract keeper Asmir Begovic fancy a move to Celtic?

If, as we are led to believe, Eddie Howe signs on the dotted line as Celtic’s new manager after the Easter weekend it will be interesting to see if the job itself will officially begin immediately or at the end of the season. Either way, and there are merits in both options, Howe will soon realise he has inherited a squad low in confidence, lacking in fitness and in danger of being criminally short on experienced talent in key positions next season.

With players such as Kris Ajer, Odsonne Edouard and Ryan Christie approaching the final year of their contracts there will have to be quick decisions made by coach and the individuals concerned as to whether these players are sold to harvest some value, or whether the players engage in the offer of a new contract.

The scenario of letting players run down their contracts and leave for nothing is something that should be avoided if at all possible – we have seen the level of commitment is already lacking in some who had an eye on the exit door this season, never mind with thoughts of self-preservation in the final year of a deal. Add to that Celtic, already stretched financially, cannot afford not to cash in and repent at leisure as we did with the likes of Dedryk Boyata.

If as expected most if not all of these players see their future away from Celtic, then Howe will be acutely aware that the spine of his team needs addressing. With Chris Jullien a solid centre back perhaps the only experienced central defender in the squad not due back until around October, the middle of Celtic’s defence will need immediate attention.

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Further forward Scott Brown’s experience and organisational skills will be missed as he joins Aberdeen and there is an acknowledged lack of right footed options in the centre of midfield where issues of balance have impacted Celtic’s midfield fluency all season – and not surely a returning Olivier Ntcham (there is a report this morning claiming that Ntcham doesn’t want to play for Celtic again) would not be the answer, if it is we need to rephrase the question.

Meanwhile up front an Odsonne Edouard shaped absence from the Celtic squad will leave the spine of the team needing replacing entirely. Even with funds from sales that in itself is an expensive rebuild and that’s before we move our attention from reinforcing the spine and look to a lack of depth in full back and wide midfield options.

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Yet any rebuild of a squad decimated in the way the current squad is likely to be starts with the goalkeeper. With Lubo98’s article this morning on The Celtic Star informing us that AEK Athens have failed in an attempt to take Vasilas Barkas back to Greece on loan next season, it seemed on first sight that Celtic were placing an in and out transfer embargo until any new manager could assess his squad.

The surprising thing however was that Barkas himself appears to feel he too has unfinished business at Celtic and had also rejected the homecoming option offered by his former club. Add to that the message from Greece appears to be that Bournemouth, Eddie Howe’s previous club, previously took an interest in signing our Greek international ‘keeper then it appears if Howe is the man strengthening Celtic’s spine, he may feel the goalkeeping position is not one of immediate concern.

READ THIS…AEK Athens frustrated as Celtic and Barkas reject loan bid, Eddie Howe’s previous interest in our Greek Keeper

Barkas it is fair to say has failed to impress this season, yet we know he was scouted for some time and seen by many as a safe pair of hands to step into the gloves vacated by Fraser Forster. It is also difficult to judge any new signing in this season of all seasons, it’s after all difficult enough to settle into a new culture and club, but to do that in the midst of a pandemic, social distancing and long periods of solitude means passing judgement is probably grossly unfair.

But this is football and at a club where high standards are demanded, despite mitigating circumstances, Barkas hasn’t instilled confidence in many supporters and you’d assume given the in and out nature of his season his teammates or coaching staff either.

Rebuilding any team begins with the spine and that starts with the goalkeeper, and with confidence low in the player himself and in belief from the stands it is difficult not to consider keeping Barkas as first choice ‘keeper as a gamble not worth taking. Yet the Bournemouth connection makes you wonder.

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Incidentally former Celtic goalkeeper John Fallon has been very vocal on the reasons why Barkas hasn’t done well at Celtic and he does not blame the keeper. Instead he blames the coaching and the tactics, believing that Barkas is being prevented from coming off his line to command his area by following tactical instructions and he is thereafter being let down by timid defending around him.

And in the goalkeeping position at Howe’s former club lies a story as to one of the reasons Bournemouth fans consider relegation came their way in the Cherries final season. Experienced Bosnian international Asmir Begovic was farmed out on loan to AC Milan. This was down to the early season form of now Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. He left the club following their relegation, yet now seems destined for the same fate this season.

This season Asmir Begovic has returned to the fold and has been a top performer for Bournemouth as they push for a play-off spot and a hoped-for return to the Premier League. With Ramsdale now staring down the barrel of a double relegation many fans at the south coast club, with the benefit of 20-20 hindsight of course, are asking the question had Begovic been between the sticks would Bournemouth have stayed up?

As with everything in football that is all ifs buts and maybes, but despite the relegation Ramsdale was voted Bournemouth’s player of the year by the club’s supporters yet he did throw in some erratic displays and Begovic this season has shown he’s a steady goalkeeper and had enough credit in the bank to interest AC Milan for a loan deal at least.

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So, would Howe do anything different if he could do it all over again? Well, there are probably a hundred things that he would when he re-assesses a season that ended in demotion and goalkeeper is possible one of those.

If Howe takes the Celtic job, he faces a big decision as to a first-choice goalkeeper almost immediately. Yet at Bournemouth Asmir Begovic is out of contract at the end of this season. With 63 caps for Bosnia and experience in top flight football with Portsmouth, Chelsea, Bournemouth and AC Milan and still only 33 years of age, Howe’s period of introspection following Bournemouth’s relegation may well have landed on the same conclusion some Bournemouth fans have reached this season, an experienced head between the sticks may have been better than a rookie option.

If so Begovic has yet to sign a new contract, indeed it would be clear wouldn’t fancy another season in the Championship should Bournemouth fail to gain promotion this season. With Celtic needing a goalkeeper who can instil confidence in a porous defence immediately, perhaps Howe and Begovic should consider reuniting at Celtic next season. It strikes me as an infinitely wiser move than trying to coax Vasilis Barkas back to form, and far less of a gamble.

Niall J

🇬🇷 | Vasilis Barkas

IMO Barkas deserves a run in the side & a proper pre-season behind him.

Anyone could have joined Celtic last summer & struggled, I also feel Lennon made him a scapegoat for his faults.

I'm not saying he'll 100% be a success but he deserves the opportunity. pic.twitter.com/jD8wPp2K6W

— Everything Celtic (@aboutceltic) April 3, 2021