There is an awful lot of speculation around Celtic currently.
Most of it is around the managerial situation, with Martin O’Neill currently in temporary charge after the resignation of Brendan Rodgers.
Kjetil Knutsen, Kieran McKenna and Wilfried Nancy are among those currently being spoken about as potential candidates for the permanent role.
But January is soon, and Celtic could do with some signings – as Rodgers made clear, to his eventual detriment.
Midfielders David Watson and Hossam Essadak have been linked this week, but it’s now a goalkeeper being mentioned, in the form of Manchester City’s Stefan Ortega.
Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega linked with Celtic move in January
Kasper Schmeichel still appears to be the Hoops’ undisputed first-choice goalkeeper, despite the presence of highly-rated Viljami Sinisalo on the bench.
He is in the final year of his contract however, and turned 39 this week. There have been questions raised about his form by some.
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And according to the Star on Sunday via the BBC’s Gossip page, the Hoops are planning a £500,000 move for 33-year-old Ortega.
Ortega has had a fascinating career. He did not make his Bundesliga debut until the age of 27, when his Arminia Bielefeld side were promoted.
He would spend just two years in the German top-flight before leaving on a free transfer to join Manchester City in a transfer that took many by surprise.
He deputised for Ederson as City won a historic treble in his first season, and thanks to a mix of squad circumstances and the Brazilian’s poor form, his game time gradually picked up over the next two campaigns.
Ortega was called up to the German national side last November, and started in last season’s FA Cup final defeat against Crystal Palace.
With James Trafford and Gianluigi Donnarumma now in the door at City, he has made just one matchday squad this season, and is presumably searching for more game time.
If Celtic were to sign him in January, it would be interesting to see how they deal with having three goalkeepers who all want to be first-choice.
Where are Celtic’s priorities for January?
Goalkeeper certainly isn’t the first position you’d think of when discussing potential January reinforcements at Celtic Park.
The Hoops are light in attack, particularly in the right-wing position. James Forrest can only start so many games.
With Kelechi Iheanacho and Callum Osmand both injured and Shin Yamada seemingly out of the picture, striker could come into the club’s thinking.
Given a long-term injury to Cameron Carter-Vickers and a lack of game time for Ortega’s teammate Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, centre back could definitely also be looked at.