Michael Zetterer

There is reportedly 'concrete' interest from Celtic in Werder Bremen keeper Michael Zetterer as the hunt for Joe Hart's replacement ramps up.

Brendan Rodgers is in the market for a new shotstopper this summer with Hart set to retire and neither Scott Bain or Benjamin Siegrist fancied long-term. Trabzonspor keeper Ugurcan Cakir has been recently linked while Liverpool's Caoimhin Kelleher has been frequently touted - though the latter's recent explosion at Anfield in the absence of Alisson seems to have thrown that one into doubt


But it seems they are searching far and wide for their new No.1 and Bild in Germany say Zetterer is firmly on their radar. The 28-year-old has impressed in the Bundesliga this season, starting the campaign as Bremen's backup keeper but taking the gloves after Jiri Pavlenka's injury October and holding the spot down ever since. It's claimed there is clear interest from Celtic in the former Germany U21 cap who is out of contract in 2025


Bild say his impressive displays have caught Bremen's eye and they want to sign him to a new long-term deal. But there is an acceptance that will be difficult with interest from abroad


The report puts Celtic front and centre and their interest is 'becoming more concrete.' That comes with the keeper growing 'hesitant' to accept a new deal and looking increasingly likely to move. Speaking last month about a potential transfer, he certainly ruled nothing out, saying simply: “I’m an athlete and very ambitious, so let’s see.

 

I thunk he is a very strong keeper. He started season as number two behin Pavlenka, took his position with very strong performances. His footwork is a real strength. The reason why he played so few games is because he had two major inhuries: broken his Jaw and afterwards had a big problem with one of his hands. So for my this would be a major issue. But his performances were topnotch in py opinion.

 

Do you think he’s shown enough for Werder Bremen that getting him in when he seems to be starting to make a career of it in Germany, enough for us to notice somewhere we never look really, for him to leave there and go to Scotland instead?

Anyone who’s showing a bit of promise in Germany, after kicking his feet for years waiting for the opportunity, always feel it’s a hopeless chase for us

 

its a hard one. Werder probably will be fighting relegation for the foreseeable future. Contract talk been stalling. Some good clubs are sniffing about, us Rennes, Galatasaray, Roma,…)However the top 5/6 have all better keepers in the Bundesliga. So that wont be an option. With us, we play in Europe each season, we win prices, think we can pay better then Werder too. Maybe he wants some silverware and play for a big club. Think he would be a realistic option for us.

 

Also have to remember the other big leagues in Europe are not like England, their distribution of wealth rests largely with the larger teams.

That was also shown with Leece a bottom half Serie A team when talking about Lagerbielke’s wages. We were willing to give him around £13k a week which in modern football isn’t astronomical for a guy on the edge of his international team squad and bought to be a first team player with us. They reportedly booked at that.

I think our biggest barrier is the other one about convincing players to come to Scotland and our league. Winning things and Europe and be a big draw for more experienced players. As younger guys our big sale is our close proximity to EPL and helping them get a move.

It’s another reason why our European performances have been really disappointing particularly that run of failing to qualify for the CL between 17/18 and 22/23. All the teams that put us out would have been on substantially smaller budgets for transfers and wages than us.

 

I'd rather we went for Zetterer than the Turkish goalie.

 

Signed new contract at Werder.