The Celtic supporters have been waiting all summer for the club to sign a new goalkeeper to replace Joe Hart and all of a sudden, two come along at the same time.
With Celtic having 20 goalkeepers linked to the club since Hart announced his departure, keeping up with every name has been a challenge for the fans.
However, with Kasper Schmeichel set for a medical either today or tomorrow the hype surrounding the Denmark international’s potential Parkhead arrival is really ramping up.
Another ‘keeper who is edging closer to a move to Paradise is Aston Villa stopper, Viljami Sinisalo.
The Finnish international is wanted by Rodgers as back-up to Schmeichel and at just 22, will be earmarked as the long-term heir to Joe Hart.
The bargain fee Celtic will pay for Sinisalo
As with any young up-and-coming player from the Premier League, you would expect to pay a premium price.
But according to Football Scotland, that is not the case when it comes to Sinisalo. Celtic are reportedly set to pay ‘around’ a bargain £1m for the young keeper and the announcement is set to be made ‘in the coming days’.
Sinisalo has already entered the final year of his contract at Aston Villa and it seems like the Premier League club are looking to cash in rather than lose him for free.
The report also states that Sinisalo will sing a five-year deal at Celtic which will take him up to the summer of 2029.
The youngster has three caps for Finland and is yet to make a senior first-team appearance for The Villains.
However, he has enjoyed a spell in Scotland before after a season-long loan at Ayr United in 2020 saw him make 29 appearances for the Championship side.
Sinisalo has also made eight appearances for Burton Albion in 2022/23 and 50 for League One’s Exeter City last season where he made 14 shut-outs as he helped them narrowly avoid the drop. [Transfermarkt]
Now set for his big move to Paradise, Sinisalo will have the opportunity to work under one of the best goalkeepers in the game in Kasper Schmeichel as he looks set to continue his footballing education under Brendan Rodgers.
