Celtic has been instructed to “go big” and sign a standout player from Euro 2024 as a “statement signing.”
Finding a replacement for Joe Hart, the former Manchester City and England goalkeeper who announced his retirement after leading Celtic to a third straight Premiership title as part of a league and cup double, will be a key task for Hoops manager Brendan Rodgers during this summer transfer window.
Goalkeepers Martin Dubravka of Newcastle United and Ugurcan Cakir of Trabzonspor are among the stoppers who have been linked to a move to Celtic Park. However, former Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Paul Robinson thinks the Hoops should make a bold move to acquire Giorgi Mamardashvili of Valencia. The Georgian international has been playing some of the best of his career at Euro 2024, leading his team to their first-ever major tournament appearance into the knockout rounds. Mamardashvili had been linked to Newcastle in a £30 million deal, but Robinson said that Celtic should make an unlikely bid for the 23-year-old to secure a long-term Hart successor.
He told Football Insider: “He played for Valencia last season, and for me, he was probably La Liga’s goalkeeper of the tournament. The way he’s played in this tournament for Georgia, I think there’ll be a lot of teams around Europe standing up and taking notice. If there was any type of opportunity, if Celtic were going to push the boat out and go big, I mean, this kid’s really good, really good. He’s still only 23 years old, six foot six, dominates his box, makes some great saves; that type of signing would be a real statement signing. Dubravka would be a good option, but again, it’s only short term; they’re going to be in this situation again at the end of next season or the season after. I can see Celtic hijacking the deal.”
