Celtic goalkeeping target Mat Ryan is reportedly in talks to sign for Club Brugge.
The 34-year-old 100-time Australia international is available on a free transfer after a season as first-choice goalkeeper at Levante in La Liga.
Celtic have been linked with Ryan, after the retirement of Kasper Schmeichel left a vacancy in the goalkeeping department at Parkhead.
However, the option to return to Brugge, where he spent two years as first-choice, could be appealing to the Aussie at the end of his career.
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Mat Ryan is Club Brugge option as Belgians set June 29th deadline
According to leading Belgian outlet Nieuwsblad, Ryan is one of several goalkeepers holding talks with the Flanders club.
Also in talks are Inter Milan’s Yann Sommer and Nottingham Forest’s Matz Sels.
READ MORE: Chris Sutton on Martin O’Neill exit rumours: ‘Celtic shouldn’t take him for granted’
Sommer could also be appealing to Celtic, given experience of captaincy and winning trophies at the highest level of football.
Ryan, on the other hand, has his own winning experience. He won the Belgian Cup in his first spell with Brugge as well as the Asian Cup with Australia in 2015 — the latter, of course, under Ange Postecoglou.
The Belgians begin their pre-season on Monday June 29th and reportedly want to have a new first-choice goalkeeper in before then, with previous number one Simon Mignolet retired.
Ryan has an impressive selection of clubs on his CV. After establishing himself with A-League side Central Coast Mariners – where he played with Tom Rogic – he joined Brugge in 2013.
His form in Belgium earned a six-year deal with Valencia, where he was sporadically used. After a loan back in Belgium, he signed for Brighton in 2017.
He made 123 appearances for the Seagulls, more than with any other club he has played for. Arsenal signed him on loan for the back-end of his final season in England.
In a turbulent period since, he has had spells at Real Sociedad, Copenhagen, AZ, Roma, Lens and current club Levante.
Has he done enough?
Goalkeepers linked with Celtic this summer
A goalkeeper appears to be a priority for Celtic’s recruitment department this summer, with Nikolas Polster being linked with the Hoops.
They haven’t had as much luck with Jari de Busser, who has recently agreed a move to AZ Alkmaar.
Motherwell stopper Calum Ward is also reportedly of interest, along with his club teammates Elijah Just, Tawanda Maswanhise and Elliot Watt.
Pierce Charles of Sheffield Wednesday is also a Celtic target, though the Hoops face competition from Rangers and Manchester City.
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