Report: Celtic consider budget summer transfer move for goalkeeper Joe Hart

By John McGinley

June 26, 2020

Celtic are considering a free transfer move for goalkeeper Joe Hart this summer, The Telegraph reports.

The former England international is available after the expiration of his contract at Burnley.

Neil Lennon is said to be keen on securing Fraser Forster’s services for our ten-in-a-row push but in the event he returns to Southampton, it’s Hart who has emerged as a candidate to be his replacement.

The paper states that Hart is looking for a club that can offer him regular football first and foremost having not started a Premier League game for 18 months.

The former Manchester City man has a wealth of experience at the top level, winning two league titles with the Etihad outfit alongside an FA Cup and two League Cups.

He won the English Premier League Golden Glove award in four seasons between 2010 and 2015 and has featured in four summer tournaments with England.

There’s no doubt his reputation has declined in recent years but the 33-year-old could be an effective option if we don’t manage to convince Southampton to part ways with the man we know and love.

Goalkeeping coach Stevie Woods helped Forster develop into the ‘keeper he is today as well as contributed to the resurrection of Craig Gordon’s career. Could he also work wonders with Hart?

Free agent goalkeeper Joe Hart in action for Burnley / (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

If Forster leaves we will need to bring quality into the position with Scott Bain the only recognised senior goalie training with the club outside of the Englishman.

Hart may not tick all the boxes when you consider how the last few years have panned out for him but as Forster proved in 2019/20, that isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker when it comes to finding form in Scotland.