President now willing to sell £12m goalkeeper who Celtic want to replace Joe Hart

When Joe Hart retires this summer, Celtic should have little trouble finding a replacement for the England international.

Since the 36-year-old declared in February that he will hang up his boots

at the end of the 2023–2024 season, Brendan Rodgers will need to find a

replacement at the top of the Celtic Park lineup.

According to a Daily Record article, the Northern Irishman was interested in

Real Madrid No. 13 Andriy Lunin to take Joe Hart’s place. It appears that this move may now happen.

Real Madrid now willing to sell Celtic target Andriy Lunin

Thibaut Courtois, who signed a loan from Chelsea last summer, had a nightmare season due to injuries, and Kepa Arrizabalaga found it difficult to fill in for the Belgian.

Carlo Ancelotti turned to Lunin as a result, and the international player from Ukraine has excelled for Real Madrid, keeping eight clean sheets in his 17 La Liga games.

The 25-year-old has gained respect from Club President Florentino Perez and become a fan favorite at the Santiago Bernabeu thanks to his transformation from third-choice glovesman to hero.

Therefore, according to Defensa Central, the Spaniard will permit Lunin to go this summer if he decides to go in quest of consistent playing time, with Real Madrid planning to have Courtois return as No. 1 for the upcoming campaign.

Although Real Madrid is finalizing a new deal and would love to keep the Ukrainian as a backup for the Belgium international once he returns to full fitness, the Spanish news site acknowledges that the player may prefer to play as a No. 1 elsewhere.

Lunin’s contract, which Real Madrid acquired from Zorya Luhansk for €14 million (£12 million) in 2018, will shortly come to an end. It ends in July 2025.

Brendan Rodgers may have a tough time convincing 25-year-old to replace Joe Hart

Rodgers may have a task on his hands to convince Lunin, as the man from Krasnohrad has previously said he loves Real Madrid, and would ideally like to stay despite his lack of playing time.

As reported by Madrid Xtra in October 2023, the No. 13 for Real Madrid stated: “I was considering leaving Real Madrid at the end of the previous season.”

“Not playing is normal, but since Real Madrid has always been a dream of mine since I was a young child, you really don’t want to leave.”

Therefore, if Celtic are to recruit the Real Madrid fan favorite this summer, Rodgers will undoubtedly need to guarantee Lunin an instant No. 1 role—and maybe more.