Celtic-linked player confirms he is leaving current club

The Celtic defence improved and stabilised massively during the 2021/22 season when new arrivals had settled in. But deeper cover in those positions, meaning more competition for places in the team, is still a problem to be solved.

Joe Hart has been tremendous for Celtic with the gloves and as a dressing room leader too. But with Vasilis Barkas well out of the first-team picture, and Scott Bain being more of a back up option than direct competition, there’s a need to consider bringing in a fresh face to play between the posts. Amidst all this, one goalkeeper of note, who has been linked with a potential move to Parkhead previously, has just confirmed that he is leaving his current club.

Benjamin Siegrist of Dundee United sent a goodbye message to the club and its fans on his Instagram. The 30-year-old Swiss goalkeeper is out of contract this summer and available for a free transfer.

Siegrist has always managed to pull off some remarkable saves against the Celtic forward line over the years and has been one of the most highly-rated goalkeepers in Scotland for a while now.

Should Celtic make a move for Siegrist this summer?

There are expected to be a number of clubs interested in signing Siegrist now that he is available on a free transfer. So if the Hoops do want to boost their cover and options between the posts, they may need to move quickly.

He has also been linked with a move to the Rangers, for whom he could end up being a starter, considering Allan McGregor is 40 years of age and clearly in the twilight of his career. The veteran has made some high-profile errors this season.

That may be more enticing to Siegrist as well, regular games rather than being cover on the bench at Parkhead to Hart.

The Hoops do have youngster Tobi Oluwayemi coming through the ranks as well and looking to break through into the first team, but that’s a longer term plan more than immediate readiness to step in. There may yet also be a struggle to move Barkas out in the summer, so there’s certainly work to do in the background if Siegrist is to be part of the plan for next season.