Celtic transfer talk continues and as Brendan Rodgers looks to find a perfect replacement for Joe Hart, the Hoops gaffer’s attention seems to have turned to the English Championship.
Hart will retire at the end of this season and will be a huge loss to Celtic. Taking over the gloves from Vasilis Barkas, Hart has been superb over his three seasons at the club.
Creating history as only the second-ever Celtic player to win all domestic honours on both sides of the border, the Englishman has left a legacy that will be hard for anyone to follow.
Linked with Caoimhin Kelleher, Celtic seem to be setting their sights high and it seems that Sunderland’s Anthony Patterson has caught Brendan Rodgers’ eye.
Anthony Patterson will cost Celtic at least £15m
The England u2 international won’t come cheap as a £10m transfer fee was floated but Carlton Palmer has told Celtic just how much they will need to fork out to land the 23-year-old.
Palmer said [Football League World], “Celtic are a massive club, a huge club, a very good manager in Brendan Rodgers, European football.
“Of course, that would be something that you would not be able to turn down.
“Celtic would have to part with the best part of £15-£20 million for Anthony Patterson, and I could see him leaving Sunderland to play in the Scottish Premiership, and then, if he is still young enough, he can come back to the Premier League.
“If he is available, I think there will be a few clubs in the Premier League who will be looking to take him on a permanent basis. A very, very talented goalkeeper.”
Well, if that price is correct, there is absolutely no chance that Celtic will pay that amount of money even for an established top-tier international never mind a second-tier English Championship one.
The transfer market down south has always been over-inflated but £15-£20m for a player who has no international or real big game experience is just incredible.
Unless any potential interest is just with a view to a loan, then Celtic will need to look at other potential targets.