A Celtic Transfer Plan We Can All Get Behind

At the end of last week, the news that Kasper Schmeichel was coming to Celtic left me feeling a bit deflated. It’s not that I think Kasper is a poor goalkeeper; on the contrary, he’s highly capable. However, with Joe Hart announcing his retirement five months ago, I expected the club to devise a mid to long-term solution for the goalkeeping position where this deal felt solely like a plaster on a huge cut.

Kasper, once confirmed as Celtic’s goalkeeper, will undoubtedly be a valuable addition for the next 12 months. But beyond that, I believe a club like Celtic should have a more sustainable plan.

Today’s news that we’re closing in on 22-year-old Aston Villa goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo casts the Kasper deal in a much better light.

For the first time, Celtic seems to have a long-term strategy for the position. The Finnish goalkeeper appears to be a signing intended to pay off not in the very distant future but within the next 12-24 months. Sinisalo is not an 18-year-old rookie, nor a 32-year-old journeyman, or a professional second-choice keeper. He has the opportunity to join Celtic, continue developing his skills, and learn without the pressure of carrying the entire season. This is where Kasper comes in. The Dane can be our solid foundation while Sinisalo finds his feet.

During Rodgers’ first spell, he was not hesitant to rotate his goalkeeper in cup comPetitions. If both signings are completed soon, I would expect the Finn to get some Game time this season. However, Champions League and League Games should be Kasper’s domain without question.

After our scathing criticism of the club late last week, this developing plan shows some promising foresight. We await the details, but it appears our goalkeeper search is nearly complete.

Now, we turn our attention to defence, midfield, wings, and attack! With just three weeks to go until the start of the SPFL season, there’s plenty of work to be done!