Celtic are monitoring Motherwell’s Calum Ward, it is being reported.
The Englishman has been a revelation for Motherwell this season, being named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year alongside four of his teammates.
Two of them, Elijah Just and Tawanda Maswanhise, have also been linked with a move to Celtic Park in recent months, as well as their manager, Jens Berthel Askou.
The Steelmen’s football has been centred around Ward’s brave approach to possession play.
You have £10m to spend on a new goalkeeper to replace Kasper Schmeichel…
Who do you pick?
Celtic linked with yet another Motherwell player in Calum Ward, two other suitors named
According to Christopher Reidy of Sky Sports News, Celtic are among those monitoring the 25-year-old, who leads the Scottish Premiership for clean sheets this season.
League One side Wycombe Wanderers and Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok are also named as suitors.
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Celtic’s goalkeeping situation was completely transformed six weeks ago, after Kasper Schmeichel had spent 18 months as the established number one.
Issues with the Dane’s shoulder had clearly impacted his performance throughout the season. However further damage sustained in the Europa League against Stuttgart forced him out of the Hoops side.
Shortly later, the devastating extent of the injury was revealed to be ruling Schmeichel out for at least nine months, effectively ending his Celtic career.
Viljami Sinisalo has since deputised as the number one, pouncing on the opportunity for a priceless audition. However, the dury is still out for the 24-year-old.
Martin O’Neill is expected to vacate the Parkhead dugout in the summer, so any transfer links should be taken with the obvious caveat that a new manager is still to be appointed.
If Askou is to be the hierarchy’s chosen one, you’d have to think that Ward would be one of several Motherwell players on his radar.
A product of the Bournemouth academy, he spent three years playing in Finland before moving to Motherwell as a backup goalkeeper in 2024.
Only under Askou has he established himself as first-choice.
Just? Maswanhise? Mulligan? Someone else?
Jens Berthel Askou on Celtic target Calum Ward
Speaking to the Motherwell social channels after Ward’s contract extension in December, Askou said:
“Calum has really taken his chance this season and shown fantastic progression since the summer.
“He has all the qualities we are looking for in a goalkeeper, and on top of that, he is extremely passionate about learning and improving under Neil Alexander’s guidance.
“His quality and composure in the build-up have been of massive importance to us, and lately he has had more and more decisive moments denying big chances for the opposition.”
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