Celtic are after the Las Palmas goalkeeper Dinko Horkas, and there is every reason to believe that he will be Martin O'Neill's help.
Replacing Kasper Schmeichel was not going to be easy, but Horkas has quietly built a reputation in Spain.
At 27, he combines experience with years ahead of him, and his commanding style seems better suited to O'Neill's demands than gambling on another inexperienced option.
It's easy to understand why the Croatian has risen so high on the shortlist.
Last season, Horkas established himself as one of the top goalkeepers in the Segunda Division, recording 14 clean sheets in 41 league appearances as he helped Las Palmas challenge for promotion.
Apart from statistics, he impressed with his command of the penalty area, calm distribution and ability to organize the defense in front of him.
Those qualities have attracted the attention of clubs across Europe, including the Scottish champions.
Celtic are in a good position to sign Dinko Horkas ahead of Hull City
According to reports from La Provincia, relayed by Sport Witness, Celtic have emerged as a “big contender” to sign Horkas from Las Palmas.
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Football FanCast verdict |
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Honesty |
La Provincia is the leading newspaper that covers Las Palmas and is well connected with the developments surrounding the Spanish club. Sports Witness has accurately translated and positioned the report for an English audience. While local reporting should always be handled with care during transfer windows, this story is consistent with the broader interest previously reported in Horkas. |
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Finance |
Celtic's reported offer of around £6 million is below Las Palmas' asking price, with the Spanish club understood to be seeking a price closer to £9 million. The goalkeeper remains under contract until 2028, giving Las Palmas a strong negotiating position despite growing interest from Celtic and Hull. |
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Understanding |
Horkas has developed into a reliable modern goalkeeper. Rather than relying solely on spectacular saves, he builds his game around balance and communication. His experience throughout Croatia, Bulgaria and Spain has helped produce a calm presence that can handle pressure. |
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Impact |
If Celtic complete the signing, Horkas will be in the running to become O'Neill's first choice goalkeeper. His experience and reliability could provide much-needed stability after Schmeichel's retirement, and his ability with the ball at his feet could suit Celtic's style of play both domestically and in Europe. |
The Bhoys are said to have made a strong bid for the goalkeeper, reports, as forwarded by La Provincia themselves, suggest that a bid of around £6 million has been made.
Newly promoted Premier League side Hull City are also interested, but the Spanish newspaper feel that Celtic are the frontrunners in the race as the player waits for his future to be settled.
The timing makes perfect sense.
Celtic have spent much of the summer searching for a long-term solution between the ranks following Schmeichel's retirement.
They scrutinized a move for Hertha Berlin's Tjark Ernst before the German completed his switch, leaving Horkas among the front-runners to take over as Rodgers' No.1.
Hull's interest means Celtic can't afford to be complacent, but negotiating with the Spanish club could be the hardest part.
That leaves Celtic with an important decision on how far they are willing to stretch financially.
