Another new name has made the back pages today in Celtic’s pursuit of a new goalkeeper this summer. The Hoops are scouring the market place far and wide for Joe Hart’s expected replacement as the big Englishman looks to have his swansong in the game at Celtic Park this year. It could still yet be a great send off for a man that has really lifted the club with his presence since his arrival in 2021 and will go with our most grateful thanks and praise.
There’s no denying that the hunt for his successor will be hard and that the club will have the apparition of Vasilis Barkas etched permanently into their psyche as we deliberate over just who to hand that massive responsibility to. The Greek goalkeeper cost Celtic a cool £5 million back in 2020 and could never really turn in the sort of performances that made bigger club’s around Europe ask AEK Athens about him.
Sometimes the jersey is just too heavy and it seemed that way with Barkas, as many supporters have him the old “chocolate wrists” moniker which is never going to work out well long-term really. He is now plying his trade with Utrecht in Holland and by all accounts, he’s been enjoying somewhat of a renaissance over in the Eredivisie – similar to the Mikey Johnston situation at West Bromwich Albion; clearly talented but can’t handle the pressure of a club like Celtic.
However, there’s been a new name thrown into the mix after the reputed interest and offer for Trabzonspor goalkeeper, Ugurcan Çakir. This time it comes in the form of Werder Bremen shot-stopper, Michael Zetterer, who has been in fine form this season at the Bundesliga club and as a result, is garnering multiple interested parties for his services.
According to German publication BILD, the Bhoys have concrete interest in the man who played back-up to injured number one, Jiri Pavlenka, until stealing the limelight during his teammate’s time out. With only a year remaining on his current deal, Bremen are said to be consigning themselves to losing the player as he’s stalling on any potential new deal to see what offers might come his way this close-season.
Paul Gillespie
