Celtic eyeing “the best no.2 in the world” as dream Hart replacement
Celtic eyeing “the best no.2 in the world” as dream Hart replacement
Celtic has undergone significant transition since the end of last season, with a turnover of both coaching and playing personnel over the last nine months.
Ange Postecoglou, the Australian head coach, left to join Tottenham Hotspur and was replaced by Brendan Rodgers, who arrived for his second term in Glasgow.
First-team talents Aaron Mooy (retired), Jota, and Carl Starfelt (sold) all gone, and the club rushed to rebuild their squad in the transfer market with a slew of new acquisitions.
Luis Palma, Maik Nawrocki, Hyun-jun Yang, and Paulo Bernardo, among others, were signed in the summer, followed by Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah during the January transfer window.
It appears that there will be more incoming business in the summer later this year, as one first-team player has already confirmed his departure. Joe Hart will retire at the conclusion of the season, when his current contract with Celtic expires.
Celtic looking for Joe Hart successor.
The Scottish giants are apparently looking for a current Premier League number two to replace the former England international for the 2024/25 season.
According to Football Insider, the Hoops ‘would love’ to sign Liverpool shot-stopper Caoimhin Kelleher as their new number one going ahead.
According to the source, the Bhoys would look to sign a goalkeeper to replace Hart, rather than depending on any of their current back-up options; Scott Bain and Benjamin Siegrist.
However, it will not be an easy transaction for Celtic, as the site reports that it will require a ‘big-money’ offer to capture his talents this summer.
According to Football Insider, Rodgers may struggle to persuade the Republic of Ireland international to move to Glasgow because Premier League clubs, including Nottingham Forest, were interested in him in January.
Andriy Lunin, Real Madrid’s goalkeeper, was connected with Celtic early this season, but a move for the Ukraine international now appears doubtful given his recent performances in LaLiga and the Champions League.
If the Hoops can reach an agreement to sign Kelleher at the end of the season then the Irish colossus could come in as an ideal replacement for Hart, given his age and quality.
The veteran shot-stopper has had a great season in the Scottish Premiership so far, but struggled in the Champions League earlier this year.
Hart, who turns 37 this year, surrendered 15 goals in six group stage matches in Europe’s top cup competition as Celtic ended last in the standings.
He underperformed as a shot-stopper, conceding 1.7 more than the typical goalie based on the post-shot xG of shots against him.
The 36-year-old powerhouse also placed in the bottom 22% or below for percentage of crosses stopped (1.2%) and defensive actions outside of the penalty area per 90 (0.17), indicating that he struggled to control his area and sweep behind his defense.
Meanwhile, Hart has saved 70% of shots on goal in the Premier League and preserved ten clean sheets in 26 appearances for the Scottish club.
So far this season, he has not made a single error that has resulted in a shot or a goal for the opposition in the top division, indicating that the English ace has been a consistent and trustworthy performance.
Hart has made 139 appearances for the Hoops in all competitions to date, and has really progressed in comparison to his form during the 2022/23 campaign.
The former Tottenham Hotspur backup played 37 Premiership games for Celtic last season, saving 65% of the shots against him but also making four blunders that resulted in shots for the opponent.
This means that the Bhoys’ number one is leaving on a high note this summer, given his performance levels have actually improved over the last 18 months or so, rather than a natural decline with age.
Why is Caoimhin Kelleher an ideal Hart replacement?
Rodgers could potentially sign a dream replacement for Hart in Kelleher, who is 11 years younger than the current first-choice and might be a long-term option for the club.
He is presently the second-choice at Anfield after Brazil’s Alisson and has attracted the eye when called upon over the past few years.
In his ten Premier League appearances for Liverpool, the Irishman has surrendered 0.2 more goals than expected, according to the post-shot xG value of the shots against him.
This means that he has been a consistent shot-stopper who has neither significantly underperformed or outperformed depending on the quality of his efforts on goal.
Kelleher has conceded 0.1 fewer goals than expected in seven Champions League and Europa League matches for the Reds, according to post-shot xG.
Kelleher has also demonstrated his ability on the big stage, with a fantastic performance against Chelsea in the League Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.
| Caoimhin Kelleher | Vs Chelsea |
|---|---|
| Minutes played | 120 |
| Shots faced | Nine |
| Shots saved | Nine |
| Clearances | Three |
| Sofascore rating | 9.2 |
| Stats via Sofascore | |
Klopp praised him as “the best no.2 in the world” after the game, and the statistics in the chart above illustrate why.
The Ireland international was unbeatable in goal and played a critical role in his team’s victory, with his magnificent close-range save from Cole Palmer in the first half being a game-changing moment.
In two finals for Liverpool, both of which were against Chelsea, Kelleher saved 100% (12/12) of the shots against him and prevented 3.9 xG in total, demonstrating that he possesses the talent and mentality to perform on the biggest stage.
As a result, the 25-year-old colossus could be the perfect player to replace Hart because he has all the tools to be a success in Glasgow, due to his age, quality, and ability to deliver top-class displays under pressure.
It is now down to Rodgers and the club to work hard to secure a deal to bring him to Parkhead for the 2024/25 campaign and beyond
Get more related news on https://sportviewers.com
Leave a Reply