Celtic’s search for a goalkeeper continues, and more than one new stopper may be needed to satiate potential squad changes this summer.
Joe Hart’s departure has opened up a void to be filled by a new number one; meanwhile, Benjamin Siegrist has hinted that he could leave Parkhead.
There are plenty of compelling options on the market that Celtic have been linked with. Newcastle United veteran Martin Dubravka and Sparta Prague’s Peter Vindahl Jensen appear to be among the frontrunners going by reports.
Nevertheless, a list of goalkeepers as long as your arm have also been mentioned as potential candidates, making for intriguing reading as supporters wait for the chips to fall on the recruitment front.
As of today, an experienced last line of defence who was said to be on Celtic’s radar in the January window has now become a free agent.
Vaclav Hladky and his previous links to Celtic
Here at 67 Hail Hail, there is an appetite to cover all Celtic angles from far and wide, making sure we never miss a beat on transfer speculation.
Back at the turn of the year, Czech-based outlet iSport’s reportage conveyed that the Hoops were looking at Vaclav Hladky — then of Ipswich Town — as a potential signing between the sticks, albeit the link never fully materialised.
Despite his prominent role at the Tractor Boys, the 33-year-old has now left Portman Road under freedom of contract after rejecting the chance to extend his stay at the Premier League newcomers [BBC Sport].
Ipswich paid tribute to the Brno-born man on social media, releasing a post on X that read: “Thank you for everything, Vas. All the best for the future.”
Hladky could be a viable goalkeeping option for Celtic
Per Transfermarkt, Hladky played in every match of Ipswich’s successful promotion campaign in the Sky Bet Championship, keeping 15 clean sheets in 47 appearances across all competitions.
Maintaining a save percentage rate of 66.7% from 165 shots on target faced in the English second-tier, the former Czechia Under-20 international was a steely presence between the sticks at Portman Road last term [FBRef].
Although he may not be the most eye-catching option on the market, Hladky also has Scottish Premiership experience, having spent a year at St Mirren in 2019/20.
If not for the first-choice role, there is little doubt that he could serve as a competent understudy or in a ‘cup goalkeeper’ capacity, depending on what Brendan Rodgers chooses to do on the transfer front.