Celtic Monitoring Aston Villa Goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo
Celtic are in need of a goalkeeper this summer with Joe Hart retiring.
With a change to the usual format in Europe’s top competition, Celtic’s third consecutive Scottish Premiership means the club has qualified for the Champions League league phase proper. This means they will have more money to spend in the summer, and Viljami Sinisalo, a young player from Aston Villa, is one target.
Few players are anticipated to leave Celtic Park in the summer, but Joe Hart is one who will most certainly be leaving. The former Manchester City and England star announced his departure from the team and his eventual retirement from football after this weekend’s Scottish Cup final against Rangers at Hampden Park. The Hoops therefore need a new custodian, and while several big names have been floated, a surprise move for Aston Villa’s Sinisalo has been suggested following a solid League One loan season.
Celtic: Most Recent Keeper Trade
This summer, Celtic wants to be aggressive in the transfer market.
The report from Sky Sports states that throughout the season, Celtic have been interested in ‘elite second-choice goalkeepers’, such as Liverpool Caoimhin Kelleher and Real Madrid’s Andriy Lunin – though their proficiency amid the injuries afforded to Alisson and Thibaut Courtois especially means that Celtic need to target elsewhere.
| Joe Hart’s Premier League statistics – All-time Goalkeeper Ranking | ||
|---|---|---|
| Stats | Output | Overall rank |
| Appearances | 340 | 16th |
| Clean Sheets | 127 | 12th |
| Touches | 6,763 | 10th |
| League Titles | 2 | =4th |
| Penalties saved | 6 | =6th |
| Statistics via Premier League – Correct as of 21/05/2024 | ||
In light of this, Scottish custodian Liam Kelly of Motherwell and rising talent Sinisalo of Aston Villa have been linked. Kelly will probably be included in Scotland’s team for EURO 2024 when Steve Clarke makes the announcement.
Since Sinisalo has been playing on loan at Exeter City in League One this season, he has appeared in all but one of the Grecians’ league games and has kept a respectable 13 clean sheets for the team as they finished their second season in the third division in mid-table. Former Hoop manager Gary Caldwell, who is currently Exeter’s manager, has highly recommended Sinisalo, calling the starlet someone who will have an incredible career. He declared:
“I believe it’s fantastic that a player on loan can arrive and establish such a strong bond with the team. I believe this is a fantastic place for loan players because this club is so much more than that, but I also think it’s great because of the way he’s embraced everything and bonded with teammates and spectators. That, in my opinion, says all you need to know about Vil, and I have no doubt that he will have a fantastic future ahead of him.”
Celtic’s Goalkeeper Chase
The Hoops are in severe need of a goalkeeper with Hart departing
Joe Hart, who joined Celtic three years ago after being released by Tottenham Hotspur, has shown himself to be a wise and astute acquisition. After enjoying success with Manchester City, the Englishman struggled at Burnley, Torino, West Ham and Spurs before settling in Glasgow. With him in goal, Celtic won six of their eight domestic trophies, and they have the opportunity to win seven when they play Rangers in the cup final next week.
GIVEMESPORT Important Stat: Should Joe Hart participate in Saturday’s championship game, he will have played in 153 games for Celtic; if the Hoops win, it translates to one prize every 22 games.
It is debatable how inexperienced Sinisalo is, thus someone with authority like Hart would be perfect. Although he might be considered a backup option, his great potential makes him a possible addition in the future, especially if he plays in cup tournaments.
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