Alan McInally: Caoimhin Kelleher Would Be A Great Replacement For Joe Hart

Former Celtic striker Alan McInally believes Caoimhin Kelleher would be an 'unbelievable' signing for his former club Celtic. 

The Scottish double winners are looking for a new first-choice goalkeeper following Joe Hart's retirement at the end of last season. 

The former England international will be difficult to replace, but McInally, who spent three seasons at Celtic, hopes the keeper can be persuaded to leave Liverpool.

Celtic are the favourites on football betting sites to win a 12th title in 13 seasons, and a fourth in a row.  

McInally believes signing Kelleher would uphold the club's tradition of great goalkeepers. 

“I think that would be unbelievable (if they signed Kelleher), I just don’t know if he would come," McInally told Gambling.com.

"Would he leave Liverpool? I'm not sure. As far as I’m aware he’s absolutely loved at Liverpool. 

"Klopp absolutely adored him. You saw he played in all the cup competitions, and I think he was a good deputy whenever he was needed. 

"That would be a great signing for Celtic, it would be fabulous it really would. 

“Whether or not you could prise him away from the arms of Liverpool I’m not really sure. I don't know how much he would cost, but I think he might cost a few quid.

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“Certainly in terms of something like that, and that’s the kind of experience I’m talking about. 

"You know, having played at that top-level, and maybe a little bit of that European level, I think would be a great fit for Celtic.

"You don’t normally win anything without a really good goalkeeper. 

"I think the case with Celtic is they’ve always had a very good goal stopper, even back in my day with Packie Bonnar etc. 

"That’s always something where I think Celtic have been much stronger."   

More Business Now Euros Are Drawing To A Close?

McInally also gave his verdict on Celtic’s transfer business this summer, which has been too quiet for his liking.

The Hoops won the Premiership title last season, but they are yet to add to their squad ahead of the 2024/25 campaign. 

Four players have departed Parkhead in recent weeks, including Hart and former forward Sead Haksabanovic.

Celtic will be the team to beat in Scotland next season. If you have a free bet or two, which not use them on the champions extending their domination. 

McInally admits he is surprised that his old club have not yet secured any new signings.

“The lads are already back (training), and I'm a little surprised that Celtic haven’t been more active in the transfer market," McInally said. 

“Not just to stabilise, as I know they were relatively successful last year in terms of obviously putting Rangers back in their place again, but I like to see business done early. 

"Maybe some of the managers have been watching the Euros and thinking ‘I’ll take him, I might get him for a good price’ etc. 

“I like business done early, and so far, Celtic haven’t been too busy. 

"That’s got to change, new faces have to come in, people have to leave, things have to be freshened up and I’m sure they’re on the job, it's just not been done yet.

"Unless you’ve got a world-class striker that’s scoring you 25 goals, you leave him alone and bring in back up. Otherwise every position is looking to get filled.

“Remember Celtic qualified for Europe, and the biggest bugbear that a lot of Celtic fans have, is they don’t get out of those group stages and get into those next rounds. 

"That’s something they would love to do. And if you can get a player that might have that kind of experience, then I think Celtic should maybe go down that line and try to bring them in. 

“It’s not easy, you think it’s easy because you’ve got money and you go ‘okay we’ll give you £15 million, £20 million or £30 million’, but much more goes on when buying a player."

Idah Deal Ideal For Both Parties

According to some reports, the Hoops are poised to make Adam Idah their first permanent acquisition of the summer.

Idah's late goal in the Scottish Cup final against Rangers secured the double for Celtic in May. Brendan Rodgers' side are favourites on the best betting sites to retain the trophy next season.

Idah spent a few months on loan at Celtic last term, scoring nine goals in 19 games and McInally has backed a permanent deal for the Norwich striker.

“I think he was pretty much, not adored, but appreciated by the Celtic fans. The fact that they’re signing him is good,” McInally said.

“In terms of what he did last season, I’m glad they’ve progressed it into a position where they can get him.” 

Lack Of Scottish Talent Available

Celtic and Rangers often snap up the talent from elsewhere in Scotland and they may do so again this close-season.

But McInally says he is unsure whether there is much talent out there that could benefit his former club.

“As much as Celtic and Rangers usually have their opportunity to take someone from another club that’s done well, I don’t think there is anybody that was really outstanding for the Old Firm to say we really genuinely need to go and get them," McInally said.

“That still might happen of course. But I think back to the days when there was a glut of unbelievably good Scottish players available for the Old Firm and going to England. 

“I was just speaking to someone about this the other day, funnily enough, that lives down here (in England). They said ‘where’s all the Scottish strikers and midfielders?’.

"Not just the ones that have come down, like Billy Gilmour, and then we’re looking at some of the other strikers that don’t exist anymore, because we don’t have them in the Scottish national team. 

"Someone that’s scoring that amount of goals. You could say Lawrence Shankland, with him finishing top of the goalscoring charts. 

"But in terms of someone else wanting Shankland, there’s not really that many clubs interested in spending a lot of money to bring him in. And I don’t know what the reason is for that.

“I think that’s the reason why Celtic and Rangers have cast their net to Europe, more than just Scotland now. 

"It tells you the story that there’s maybe not the same quality of football players in Scotland that there was, that’s for sure.”