Joe Hart isn’t in a rush to sit down with Celtic and thrash out his long-term future, insisting at this stage of his career he is not “chasing contracts” or getting bogged down in unknowns.
Hart is coming to the end of his second season in Glasgow and has already won three trophies, with two more winners’ medals possibly joining his collection by the end of the current campaign.
He’s been a reliable, steady presence marshalling Ange Postecoglou’s defensive line and is certainly valued by the manager, who talks up his influence on the squad and around Lennoxtown as much as his goalkeeping ability.
However, he is also 35 and with Postecoglou so focused on a constant treadmill of improvement, it’s currently unclear whether Hart will be sticking around for another contract cycle. His current deal expires in 2024.
Hart understands there are no guarantees here, despite him being a successful Celtic signing. But he also isn’t stressing about his future either.
As quoted by The Sunday Post [18/04 print edition], Hart said: “We’ll see. I haven’t actually given it much thought and I don’t know if the club has. They are a business so they are always going to be thinking about the future. Like I say, I am in a real privileged position to be enjoying every day as it comes and trying to give my best.
“I still have another year on my contract, so I don’t really feel that conversation needs to be had. I’m in a special part of my career where I’m not chasing a contract or worrying about negotiations. It’s not really where I’m at. I’m just loving being part of the football and what will be will be. Conversations like that will probably happen when they need to be had but I don’t need to be knocking doors down and I certainly don’t expect people to be badgering me.”
I doubt anyone at Celtic is going to be kicking the veteran out the door. Likewise, his future could depend on if Postecoglou and Mark Lawwell have identified any upgrades that are achievable for the club to purchase over the next couple of transfer windows.
We know that a chaotic goalkeeping situation can have a serious impact on club form, so the club will tread carefully here. There’s no rush to either commit to Hart for more years or move him on without being certain stability will continue.
Through it all, it’s clear Hart will remain as focused as ever.
In other news, Liam Scales targets Rangers as Celtic loanee highlights confidence of upsetting rivals.
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