Celtic are believed to have identified Dundee United goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist as a potential new recruit this summer, according to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph.

What's the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the reporter revealed that the Parkhead club have been keeping tabs on the Swiss 'keeper, with a deal potentially in the works.

He stated: “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.”

As Joseph stated, the 30-year-old is set to be available on a free transfer this summer having confirmed his departure from Tannadice, having spent the last four seasons with the Premiership outfit.

This update follows a report last week which suggested that the former Wycombe Wanderers stopper has been monitored by Celtic as a potential replacement for Vasilis Barkas, with the Greece international joining FC Utrecht on a season-long loan deal.

Barkas replacement

That exit for the 28-year-old comes after what has been a truly dismal and error-strewn stint at Parkhead thus far, with the former AEK Athens man having failed to ever justify the £5m paid by the Hoops in 2020.

With some of his performances described as "awful" by the club's former striker Frank McAvennie, the £9k-per-week disaster made 15 league appearances in his debut campaign before being swiftly replaced by Scott Bain. The arrival of current first-choice Joe Hart last summer pushed Barkas even further down the pecking order, as he made just one league outing last term.

With his temporary departure opening up a place in the squad alongside the aforementioned Bain and Hart, a move for Siegrist would duly make sense, with Celtic in need of increased depth as they prepare to compete both domestically and in Europe next term.

The £585k-rated colossus has racked up 145 appearances for Dundee United over the last four seasons, notably keeping nine clean sheets and conceding a respectable 41 goals in his 34 league starts last term, averaging an impressive three saves per match for the Tangerines.

Such form has seen him tipped to be a "great signing for Celtic" by his former Tannadice manager Micky Mellon, with the 50-year-old having lavished him with praise for his "top work ethic".

That glowing assessment would suggest that Ange Postecoglou and co could have a hugely valuable asset on their hands if they are to swoop for the 6 foot 5 ace this summer, with Siegrist offering a reliable presence as an understudy to Hart.

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