If Celtic want to improve under the stewardship of Ange Postecoglou next season then they’ll have to be better in the transfer market.
Of course, a deal for the Australian to become the Hoops’ new manager isn’t concluded just yet but he looks set to be welcomed with open arms to Parkhead this summer.
He looks set to be joined by a new director of football, someone who specialises in player recruitment.
If the Bhoys hierarchy can get this set-up spot on then it would be a solid recipe for success. After all, the vast majority of their transfers 12 months ago haven’t gone down well.
Vasilis Barkas was charged with replacing the man-mountain of Fraser Forster but has never looked comfortable between the sticks for Celtic.
A £4.5m move took place but he lost his place fairly quickly and started just twice since January.
He looked a liability behind the defensive line and thus, Celtic should be looking to find a replacement this summer. After all, the likes of Scott Bain and Charlie Hazard have also made their own individual errors during the 2020/21 campaign.
Forster looks set to remain at Southampton so that won’t be possible but they could sign a like-minded player in Freddie Woodman.
The 6 foot 2 stopper is shorter than Forster but has strong arms and can play out from the back astutely.
He’s been linked with a move to Southampton but the Hoops are also interested in prising him away from Newcastle in the coming months.
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Woodman spent the current campaign on loan at Swansea where he helped the Welsh side to the Championship playoffs.
He didn’t miss a single game throughout the campaign, keeping 21 clean sheets during his 48 outings for the Swans.
An authoritative figure with high standards, Woodman is held in incredibly high esteem.
He’d been tipped to play for the England national team and has already trained with senior members in the Three Lions camp.
However, for a bigger glimpse of his potential, you only need to focus on words from Lee Clark who was in charge of Kilmarnock when Woodman spent a period in Scotland.
“I knew he was an outstanding young keeper and had all the attributes. The tough thing was I had an experienced goalkeeper in Jamie MacDonald in the team — that was causing one or two issues in terms of what I wanted to do,” he began.
“But I knew I was bringing a talented goalkeeper in. Freddie’s communication, his shot-stopping and his distribution skills are second to none. He’s an unbelievable professional and works extremely hard at his game,” Clarke concluded.
With those qualities in mind, he’d be an expert signing for Celtic. They need a goalkeeper after a horrific season defensively; Woodman would surely be a fix.