- Free agent Koen Casteels has emerged as option for Parkhead side despite holding talks with Anderlecht
- The 31-year-old keeper has said farewell to Wolfsburg after nine seasons and 275 appearances for Bundesliga side
- Hart will bring his playing career to an end after Saturday’s Scottish Cup final with Rangers at Hampden
Celtic have added Belgian international goalkeeper Koen Casteels to a list of potential replacements for Joe Hart.
Hart will bring his playing career to an end after the Parkhead side face Rangers in the Scottish Cup final on Saturday.
With the newly-crowned champions seeking a replacement for the former England No1, free agent Casteels has emerged as an option despite holding talks with Anderlecht over a return to Belgium from Germany.
The 31-year-old made his final appearance for Wolfsburg in a home defeat to Mainz on Saturday, waving an emotional farewell to fans after nine seasons and 275 appearances with the Bundesliga club.
Capped eight times by his country, Anderlecht’s hopes of luring Casteels home suffered a blow when defeat to Club Brugge at the weekend all but ended their hopes of winning the Pro League and securing automatic qualification for the Champions League.
Celtic have added Koen Casteels to their list of targets to replace Joe Hart
Alex McCarthy of Southampton is also on the Parkhead club’s radar
Etienne Vaessen of Waalwijk is another goalie who has been linked with Celtic
Casteels declined to confirm or deny any interest from Celtic when contacted by Mail Sport.
Speaking after his final game for Wolfsburg, however, he told the club website: ‘I don’t have a new club yet. We’ve already held initial talks but it’s not 100 per cent certain which club I’ll be playing for next season.’
Casteels came through the Genk academy and moved on to TSG Hoffenheim before ending up at Wolfsburg. He helped them win the German Super Cup in season 2015-2016 and managed 91 clean sheets.
Speaking of his affection for the German club, Casteels added: ‘Looking back, things have worked out just as we imagined them at the time — for me and for Wolfsburg.
Burnley’s Arijanet Muric is reportedly of interest to the newly crowned Scottish champions
QPR’s Asmir Begovic is among those being considered as a replacement for Hart
Turkish international Ugurcan Cakir of Trabzonspor is interesting Celtic, too
‘I definitely have a strong bond with Wolfsburg. My son was born in Wolfsburg, so I’ll always have that connection with the city and the club.
‘When I look back on my career after my playing days are over, Wolfsburg will definitely be the club at which I spent the most time and which allowed me to transform from a youngster into an established Bundesliga goalkeeper.’
Celtic have been linked with a number of names in the search for a new keeper.
Southampton’s Alex McCarthy, Etienne Vaessen of Waalwijk, Burnley’s Arijanet Muric, QPR’s Asmir Begovic and Turkish international Ugurcan Cakir of Trabzonspor have all been touted for a move to Glasgow.
Brendan Rodgers could also be in the market for a second back-up keeper from the homegrown market if Benjamin Siegrist moves on, with Motherwell’s Liam Kelly considered.
