Celtic have joined Rangers in the race for Sheffield Wednesday’s Pierce Charles, according to a report.
Kasper Schmeichel’s Parkhead career looks to be over, and with the jury still out for Viljami Sinisalo, goalkeeper is an obvious area for improvement next season.
Despite the permanent future of Martin O’Neill being in doubt, the Hoops are still being linked with players in the transfer market ahead of what is sure to be a busy summer transfer window.
And Charles, who is likely to be available for an affordable transfer fee at PSR shambles Sheffield Wednesday, is reportedly piquing their interest.
Does the 20-year-old goalkeeper sound exciting to you?
Celtic in hunt for ‘number one’ option Pierce Charles
According to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, both Celtic and their Glasgow rivals are in the hunt for the 20-year-old.
The report says that he will definitely depart Hillsborough this summer.
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Born in Manchester, Charles already has ten caps for the Northern Irish national team, establishing himself as first-choice goalkeeper as a teenager.
He was handed his senior debut for Wednesday by Rangers boss Danny Rohl. If he is keen to reunite with the German, Celtic could be on the back foot in the race.
He is the brother of midfielder Shea Charles, with whom Celtic have been linked in the past. The pair played together in the academy at Manchester City.
Small for a goalkeeper at 6 ft 1 in, Charles has earned plaudits for his ability on the ball. He claimed an excellent assist against Hull City in December.
In total, he has 44 senior appearances, all at either Championship or international level. This is rare for a goalkeeper, for whom first-team opportunities tend to be rare.
In response to reports linking Charles with Rangers, ex-Rangers and Wednesday midfielder Josh Windass said that the goalkeeper is “the best player in the world”.
You have been given £10m to sign one player for Celtic in the summer transfer window…
Which player are you spending that money on?
On paper, Celtic are more likely to offer him a role as first-choice goalkeeper. But is he enough of an upgrade on Sinisalo to justify this?
It’s up to the manager and scouts to determine this. Regardless, the Finland international has a golden audition between now and the end of the season.
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