Celtic named favourites to sign £15 million goalkeeper

Joe Hart surprised the footballing world by announcing that he will be retiring from the game at the end of this season. The Englishman has been the number one for Celtic for the past three seasons while often criticised, he has played a pivotal part in the Hoops' triumphs in recent years and been one of their better performers lately amid their struggles under the management of Brendan Rodgers.

Hart's announcement has made one thing crystal clear. Celtic will need to sign a new number one next summer. Handing the role to Benjamin Siegrist or Scott Bain should not even be a consideration.

It will be interesting to see who Celtic end up signing next summer to replace Hart. They have been linked with plenty of high-profile names.

In the aftermath of Hart's announcement, Celtic have been named the favourites to sign Caoimhin Kelleher from Liverpool next summer. Wolves, Bournemouth and Sheffield United are also in the running for the goalkeeper.

Celtic named favourites to sign £15 million goalkeeper

Kelleher is an excellent goalkeeper and has impressed whenever given a chance by Liverpool. Those chances have been limited though, with Alisson the number one for the Premier League club for many years now.

So, Kelleher has had to be satisfied with cup games or getting playing time when Alisson has been unavailable. But there has been speculation that he could leave Liverpool next summer in search of consistent playing time.

Liverpool were believed to have rejected a £15 million transfer bid from Nottingham Forest for Kelleher on deadline day of the recent winter window. So, Celtic might have to break the club record, if they want to bring the goalkeeper to Parkhead in the summer. Considering the club's recent activity, such a move feels highly unlikely but you never know in football.