Celtic’s pursuit of Hertha goalkeeper Tjark Ernst has been gathering pace over the last two days with the Bundesliga 2 club hierarchy now being forced to comment on the speculation.
Ernst caught Celtic’s eye as the Parkhead club look to strengthen their goalkeeper position after Kasper Schmeichel’s retirement and they have been told it will take £4m to prise him away from Hertha.
However, Wolfsburg have entered the race for the Celtic target and all the speculation has forced Hertha’s managing director and manager to come out and speak about the rumours surrounding their number one goalkeeper.
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Celtic interest in Ernst forces Hertha chief admission
First up to speak about Ernst’s future is Hertha Berlin’s managing director Dr. Peter Görlich who spoke to Berliner Kurier about the rumours surrounding the 23-year-old stopper.
He said, “I have so much on the phone that I no longer know who was actually on it.
“We are the player’s contractors. He’s still here. But of course, such a goalkeeper, who has such a charisma at a young age, arouses interest in the market.
But Tjark also knows what he has in us, what position he can take here in the future. We will see how the different parties make decisions.”
It looks on the surface that Görlich is trying to put pressure on Celtic by claiming he is speaking to a multitude of clubs about Ernst.
He then continued, “This weighing is never easy. Because firstly, we are talking about people and secondly, we are talking about strategic squad positions.
“And the goalkeeper is an important position. Nothing is out of the question, but we are prepared when certain scenarios occur.”
It appears that the Hertha chief is resigned to losing Ernst, but what does their manager Stefan Leitl make of it all?
Hertha manager ‘prepared’ for Ernst’s departure
It appears that Leitl is also accepting of the fact that Ernst could move on this summer, but will it be to Celtic?
Leitl said, “I believe that Tjark is now in the situation to make a decision. And we’ll wait and see.
“And we have to prepare for it, in one direction or the other.”
With Wolfsburg also pushing for Ernst’s signature, Celtic face genuine competition if they decide to make their move.
What Hertha’s own hierarchy have now made clear is that a summer exit is firmly on the table.
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