Celtic are closing in on making Kasper Schmeichel their first signing of the summer transfer window.
It’s reported by Fabrizio Romano that the Bhoys are coming to terms on an initial one-year contract with Schmeichel. It’s stated that there will be the option of another season.
Danish outlet Tipsbladet has also reported that his medical will take place this weekend, meaning he should be in place for the club’s trip to the United States next week.
It can’t be ignored that Celtic are pursuing a very similar profile to Joe Hart in replacing the retired goalkeeper. They’ve not gone with a younger option who will stay at the Bhoys for the long term.
Brendan Rodgers has favoured experience and personality, knowing exactly what he’s getting in Schmeichel from their days at Leicester City.
Joe Hart recently dished out glowing praise to Schmeichel
It’s fitting then that Hart is a massive fan of his former teammate. The duo played together at Manchester City in their younger years and, speaking recently to the BBC about the Dane’s efforts at Euro 2024, the Celtic favourite made it clear he continues to admire the fellow English Premier League winner.
He said: “His strengths as a goalkeeper are his physique and his power. He turned himself into an incredible athlete at a young age, and that has never changed. He is aggressive and assertive, and he can do things that a lot of other keepers can’t.
“But as well as his physical attributes, I know how his mentality has played a huge part in what he has done in his career, and how he achieved it. You don’t stay at the top for so long, like he has, without having an incredible passion for the game.
“We met as opponents, but Kasper and I soon became team-mates at City when I joined them a few months after that game at Gay Meadow, and we clicked straight away. Right from the start, we were never rivals, always good friends.
“Kasper was the first person to welcome me at City on my first day at the training ground. He was actually waiting for me, to take me into the building. I’ll never forget that, because it meant a lot.”
Joe Hart compares himself to Kasper Schmeichel
It actually becomes clear in the lengthy BBC column that Hart sees a lot of similarities between himself and Schmeichel. The former Bhoys shot-stopper reckons the two have a very similar work ethic.
He continued: “Another thing Kasper and I had in common from those early days together at City was our work ethic.
“Whatever happened to me in football, good or bad, I never let my work rate dip, or allowed my attitude to be questioned and Kasper never gave anyone a chance to do that either.
“That’s probably one of the reasons we both got to the age of 37 at the top level, but I never thought I was doing anything special and I am sure if you asked Kasper he would say the same.”
It’s very interesting reading in the context of Schmeichel’s impending move to the Bhoys.
Hart will enjoy watching his friend pull on the number one jersey at Celtic and try to emulate what he achieved over the previous three seasons.
We’re all hoping he can do that and still show he has what it takes to perform at an elite level.
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