The Celtic fans will be looking eagerly toward this summer in the hope that Brendan Rodgers can add quality players to launch his defence of the Scottish Premiership title and to improve the club’s standing in Europe.
For the last three seasons, Celtic have failed to make a mark in the Champions League. And whilst dominating Scotland has been great, the fans are desperate to get back to the days when taking scalps like Liverpool almost became the norm at the beginning of this century.
The one big position that Rodgers needs to address is the gaping hole that’s been left by Joe Hart. The retiring hero will be sadly missed by the Celtic support not just for his exploits between the Parkhead sticks but also for the bond he had with them.
Whilst links to goalkeepers have been almost non-stop, no one really knows who Brendan Rodgers has in mind to fill that gap. But the answer could lie at Euro 2024.
Slovakia’s Marek Rodak is now a free agent
Marek Rodak is an international goalkeeper with 22 caps for Slovakia. A product of the Fulham academy, Rodak has enjoyed loan spells at Welling United, Accrington Stanley and Rotherham United.
Former Welling goalkeeper, Mike McEntegart, was replaced by Rodak and despite not liking the fact a youngster had taken his place, he still had high praise for the then 23-year-old.
McEntegart said, “When you first meet him, it is the size and frame of him. But it was the way that he moved that told you he was going to be a top goalkeeper.”
It was during the London club’s promotion push to the Premier League in season 2019/20 that Rodak really came to the fore.
Rodak ousted Marcus Bettinelli as Fulham’s number one that season and that is when the Craven Cottage side’s promotion push is said to have taken a positive turn. [Sky Sports]
In 33 appearances, Rodak’s 14 clean sheets led Fulham to the Championship play-off final where a 2-1 extra-time win against Brentford took them to the Premier League.
And that is when it all went downhill for the Slovakian. Alphonse Areola was brought in on loan from Paris Saint-Germain and Rodak lost his first-team place and his Premier League status after being relegated after just one season in the top flight.
Back in England’s second tier, Rodak was trusted between the sticks and once again promotion to the top flight was confirmed as Fulham ran out champions the following season.
The Cottagers then spent £8m on German goalkeeper, Bernd Leno, in 2022 and once again Rodak was relegated to the Fulham bench where he has remained for the past two seasons. [Sky Sports]
Rodak is part of Slovakia’s Euro 2024 squad as a backup to Newcastle’s Martin Dubravka. Although he did play the full 90 minutes in Slovakia’s 4-0 win over San Marino last week and was the Slovakian team’s best player in the 1-1 draw with Norway back in March. [Fotmob]
Rodak is also now looking for a new club and he could be an option for Brendan Rodgers now that he is available for free after being released by the Premier League club last week.
At just 27, the Slovakian still has his best years ahead of him and having won promotion to the Premier League twice, he has shown he has what it takes to perform in high-pressure situations.