GiveMeSport
·15 June 2022
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·15 June 2022
Celtic have ‘been looking at’ Dundee United goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist for ‘quite a while’, according to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph.
The 30-year-old is set to leave Tannadice on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of the month and has been tipped to switch allegiances to the reigning Scottish champions this summer.
A recent report from the Daily Mail claimed that Siegrist has emerged as a potential candidate to replace outgoing shot-stopper Vasilis Barkas at Celtic, who has endured a nightmare spell in recent years.
Barkas arrived from AEK Athens via a £4.5 million deal back in July 2020, but his time with the Glasgow giants has not gone to plan, and he’s sealed a season-long loan to FC Utrecht for next term.
Former England number one Joe Hart and back-up Scott Bain remain part of manager Ange Postecoglou’s first-team squad, though, it seems the tactician is eager for further reinforcements.
It’s claimed that Postecoglou is keen to bring in more experience before Champions League football returns to the club, and Siegrist is high on their list of options.
The former Switzerland Under-21 international spent four seasons at Dundee United, making 145 appearances in all competitions before opting to become a free agent at the end of last season.
Joseph believes that snapping Siegrist up would be ‘quite an easy’ deal to do, and also revealed that he would not be surprised to see the 6 foot 4 ace sign for the Hoops.
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He told GiveMeSport: “Siegrist is someone they’ve been looking at for quite a while, just in terms of their wish list of good goalkeepers.
“And he’s out of contract, so that would be quite an easy one, and it would not surprise me if Siegrist was to join this summer. He probably wants to also be back in the setup for international football as well.”
Celtic had the best defensive record in the Scottish Premiership last term, leaking just 22 goals in their 38 top-flight appearances.
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Therefore, a new keeper is perhaps not a priority for Postecoglou, but Bain has put in several unconvincing displays between the sticks down the years, and a more reliable backup to Hart would surely be welcomed.
Siegrist kept 45 clean sheets during his four-year spell with the Tangerines and could be a valuable addition to Celtic’s squad if he can replicate that sort of form.