Reported Celtic target ‘ready to move’ to next club

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Andriy Lunin’s wife Anastasia has provided an update on her husband’s future at Real Madrid with the Ukrainian shot-stopper linked with a move to Celtic.

Lunin, who joined Real Madrid in 2018, has failed to secure a spot as the number-one goalkeeper during his time at the club. He was said to be disappointed with the summer signing of Kepa Arrizabalaga on loan from Chelsea after a training ground injury to Thibaut Courtois.

Lunin’s days at Madrid appear to be numbered, but despite limited game time, Lunin is said to have a list of clubs interested in his signing, including Chelsea and Real Betis. The Daily Record first linked Celtic to a move for shot-stopper last month.

The Ukraine-born goalkeeper would certainly want assurances before joining Celtic. With a lack of game time in five years in Spain at 24 years old, he is desperate to become a first-team starter. Celtic looks to be an appealing opportunity, with no guarantees of becoming number one at Chelsea and Betis.

Celtic has uncertainty over the goalkeeper position, with current number one Joe Hart’s contract expiring in 2024. This would almost certainly mean that if Lunin is signed, he will be signed to replace Hart and not sit on the bench, as he did during his spell in Spain.

A rare update on Lunin’s future was provided by his wife Anastasia on social media. She said: [Daily Record], “If there is a club that will let him play I think we will leave. If there is a club where he will be allowed to play then of course we are ready to move.”

This update on Lunin’s willingness to move shows that Celtic could pull off an incredible signing in January, with the shot-stopper in a similar position to Hart, as both their contracts expire in the summer of 2024.

However, the fact that Lunin will be available on a free transfer next summer means that Celtic will face stiff competition for his signature.

There’s a possibility of clubs bidding on him in January for a reduced fee, with Madrid preferring to receive a reduced transfer fee for Lunin in January rather than no transfer fee in July.