Davie Provan has urged Celtic to pursue a deal for Derby County beast David Marshall... 

What's the talk?

Former Celtic player Davie Provan has urged the club to bring David Marshall back to the club to compete with Joe Hart. He believes that the Derby County shot-stopper should replace Vasilios Barkas, so that they can move the flop on this month.

He told Glasgow radio station Go Radio (via Derbyshire Live):

“Would it not make sense for Celtic to go and get David Marshall? And get him for nothing, probably, and have him and Joe fighting for the gloves?

“[Vasilios] Barkas is going, isn’t he? The sooner the better. Not just for Celtic, but for Barkas, as well. And, hopefully, his agent is working on a deal for him now to move him on.

“And that would leave room, and I think Marshall would make sense.”

Get it done

Celtic must pursue a deal to sign Marshall this month if it is viable. This is only a suggestion from Provan and there has been nothing to say that the Hoops are actively looking at the shot-stopper or whether or not Derby would even be willing to part ways with him at this stage.

However, with his contract expiring in 2022 there could be some wiggle room for Celtic to come in and make the Championship side an offer that is worth taking. Provan believes Barkas needs to leave the Scottish club and that could mean that a back-up is needed for Hart, which is a role Marshall could be perfect for.

The Scotland international is vastly experienced, both in his home country and England, and could provide reliable cover for the former Spurs man. He has played the best part of 500 games across the Championship and Premier League, having also played 31 times for Celtic at the start of his career before he moved on to Norwich.

When managing Cardiff earlier in his career, current Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær claimed that he would not swap Marshall for any other goalkeeper. He said:

"David Marshall's been outstanding to make such a save at such an important time of the game, it earned us a point.

"The last save was just unbelievable. He moves his feet quickly and gets his arm up and that just sums up his season really.

"I wouldn't swap him for anyone, that's for sure."

This highlights the experience and quality he possesses. He knows what it takes to play for Celtic, having done so previously, and has shown off his ability in both the Premier League and Championship. With 46 caps for Scotland, the 6 foot 3 ace is also no stranger to the big occasion and having a player like that as a back-up could be useful for Ange Postecoglou this season.

Marshall himself has previously admitted his openness to a move back to Parkhead, saying: "Of course it would. I think it would interest any player. But to a Celtic fan growing up, and someone who played there as a youngster coming through, it would be a massive thing for me.

"I’ll just need to see how it all pans out. I haven’t heard anything from Celtic, but I’ll always have that affinity with them and it would be great if it happens."

Celtic could strike gold with the goalkeeper this summer.

AND in other news, Report drops update on "incredible" £5m beast that'll leave Celtic fans gutted...