Celtic handed transfer blow by £7.5 million target

Celtic will need to strengthen in goal in the summer. Joe Hart has already announced that he will be retiring from the game at the end of this season. As a result, the Hoops are losing their starter for the past three seasons. At the same time, Scott Bain's contract will run out as well and there are serious doubts about Benjamin Siegrist's future at Parkhead, having been linked with a move away in the previous two transfer windows.

Celtic have been linked with a move for RKC Waalwijk goalkeeper, Etienne Vaessen, recently. The Dutchman is set to become a free agent in the summer.

Most Celtic fans have not been convinced by the idea of signing a goalkeeper currently in a relegation struggle in the Eredivisie as their first-choice. He could be a decent back up option though.

Celtic have been linked with the likes of Caoimhin Kelleher and Andriy Lunin as well. Those would be blockbuster signings without a doubt but ones which are pretty much impossible to pull off for the club. Not only will the potential transfer fee be an issue but convincing them to play in the Scottish Premiership as well.

Celtic handed transfer blow by £7.5 million target

Another fairly high-profile goalkeeper Celtic have been linked with recently is Ugurcan Cakir. He is a Turkish international and the captain of Trabzonspor.

Cakir has been linked with a £7.5 million summer move but judging from his recent comments, convincing him to leave Trabzonspor won't be easy. As reported by The Scotsman, he told Gunebakis:

"I have been a Trabzonspor fan since my childhood, my father instilled this love in us.

"After spending a certain period of time in the youth structure, I was promoted to the A Team.

“I lifted 4 trophies. For me, it’s an incredible feeling to win a trophy at the club I am a fan of. I’ve always been proud of that. It’s a great and honourable feeling to be the captain of this team. Playing for Trabzonspor was already my dream as a child. It gives great pride to me, my family and my loved ones."

Signing someone like Cakir would be viewed as a coup for Celtic. But it looks like pulling off a move would prove to be difficult, although it is not uncommon for professional players to leave the clubs they support if the right option is available.