Celtic have expressed interest in Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, amid Brendan Rodgers’ search for a successor to Joe Hart.
The Slovakia international has emerged as a target following a productive campaign at the Magpies where he made 30 appearances across all competitions, recording eight shutouts in total [Transfermarkt].
Involved with his nation at EURO 2024, Dubravka is on the lookout for first-team football after admirably deputising between the sticks for Eddie Howe’s preferred choice, Nick Pope. With Celtic in the hunt for a goalkeeper, he could offer a wealth of experience as their new last line of defence.
Rodgers is going to find it difficult to replace Hart; after all, the former England international embraced life at Parkhead like a duck to water for three years despite previously admitting he wasn’t sure where his future in football lay following a frustrating spell at Tottenham Hotspur.
Nevertheless, there is a common ground between both stoppers to be found here in some respect.
Celtic’s Martin Dubravka pursuit has a familiar feeling
Reports earlier this week signified that Dubravka has been deemed surplus to requirements at Newcastle and is now free to leave St James’ Park this summer.
Several outlets, such as Sky Sports and local publication The Northern Echo, add credence to these claims, with the latter stating the Magpies are keen to offload him now rather than waiting until next year when he can depart on a free transfer.
When pressed on why he thought retiring from football at Celtic was the right course of action for his career at the end of 2023/24 by Chris Sutton, Hart answered by indicating that it was time for someone else to experience the wonders that life in Glasgow’s east end can bring should you choose to take on the challenge.
He stated: “I got a point in my life when I was potentially on the way out and then I got another opportunity. I don’t want to push that luck. I just want to finish strong. I want to finish in this special place as part of this special club. I think it is my time to move aside and let someone else have some fun.”
Now, I know that Hart and Dubravka aren’t exactly like-for-like, given the Slovakian stopper has been playing regular football in the Premier League and has other suitors from around Europe and Saudi Arabia [Daily Record].
Regardless, the 35-year-old is a goalkeeper who isn’t viewed as someone with a role to play at his current employers. He is also similar in age to Hart when he arrived at Celtic, and the Zilina-born man is an experienced figure who has spent most of his career in the Premier League, so there is definitely an angle there for the football purists among us.
Admittedly, there may only be a small parallel here, but it is a parallel nonetheless. Rodgers is believed to view Dubravka as someone that can emulate Hart’s exploits, per the report. Make of that what you will.