Celtic are reportedly keeping a close eye on Trabzonspor captain Ugurcan Cakir as they evaluate options to replace the retiring Joe Hart at the end of the season according to Gune Bakis.
Brendan Rodgers faces a goalkeeper conundrum after veteran Hart’s retirement announcement, leaving him with Scott Bain and Ben Siegrist – the latter also a target for Aberdeen. With a need for a new number one, Cakir has emerged on Celtic’s watchlist.
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The highly-regarded Turkish international boasts 26 caps and previous interest from top clubs like Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool.
Cakir is expected to lead the Turkish national team in goal at Euro 2024 this summer.
Though a move to Southampton fell through last year, Cakir could still command a substantial transfer fee, potentially complicating any move from Celtic. Cakir’s contract with Trabzonspor runs until 2027.
Celtic’s interest in Cakir highlights their search for a reliable and experienced goalkeeper to fill Hart’s shoes. Whether they can meet Trabzonspor’s likely price tag remains to be seen.
Cakir has been linked with a move abroad for several seasons and is one of the most highest rated goalkeepers in the Turkish top tier.
The report claims that Cakir is also being scouted by several other European sides who have also expressed an interest.
Cakir has only ever played for Trabzonspor and has made a total of 232 appearances in all competitions for Trabzonspor.
