Celtic made a solid start to their summer transfer window by signing Osaze Urhoghide from Sheffield Wednesday. But since then, they have not managed to get deals over the line.
The club have been linked with several exciting names but till now, they have not managed to sign them. Now, it is understandable that transfers take time to happen. But with the UEFA Champions League qualifiers quickly approaching and several positions in need of strengthening, time is of the essence at Parkhead right now.
One of the areas that the Hoops were expected to strengthen in this summer is between the posts. There was not a clear number one goalkeeper at the club last season. Vasilis Barkas, Scott Bain and Conor Hazard all got runs in the first-team but none of them managed to quite convince that they were the long-term answer.
As a result, the club were linked with goalkeepers this summer and Mat Ryan was someone who was heavily linked with the Hoops following the arrival of Ange Postecoglou as manager. But now, it is clear that he won’t be signing for Celtic.
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Celtic handed Ryan transfer blow
Real Sociedad announced on their Twitter that they have reached an agreement with Brighton & Hove Albion to sign Ryan.
The 29-year-old was no longer a starter at the Premier League club and had spent the second half of last season on loan at Arsenal. Thus, a move to Parkhead, considering his history with Postecoglou did not seem impossible. But now, it is clear that the Hoops will have to turn their attention elsewhere if they had had Ryan on their radar.
It might be possible though that the club could decide against making a signing at goalkeeper, if Barkas is able to impress in pre-season. The Greek goalkeeper was signed for a transfer fee of around £4.5 million last summer and arrived with high expectations but ended up having a tough debut campaign in Scotland.