Scottish Premiership, known for its football heritage, has mostly been a duel between two Glasgow rivals Celtic and Rangers. But the latter’s late misfortunate has handed the Hoops a free run towards title glory and they are thoroughly dominating the Scottish football in recent years. Celtic, under Brendan Rodgers, are close to clinching their seventh successive Premiership title and likely to complete a domestic ‘treble’ for consecutive campaigns. The ex-Liverpool gaffer has constituted a balanced side with a proper amalgamation of youth as well as experience and is slowly building a side capable of performing better in European tournaments.
Celtic, however, have a recent crisis regarding goalkeeper situation as first-choice custodian Craig Gordon is out for months with an injury. Gordon is 35 already and his deputy Dorus de Vries is 37 thus neither hold a long-term future ahead between the sticks in Hoops colours. Dundee loanee Scott Bain remains the only keeper who can be viewed as a long-term solution but the Bhoys will face tough competition from a host of other sides to tie Bain down on a permanent deal.
Bain, 26, will be out of contract this summer and is currently on loan at Celtic for the rest of the campaign. He initially moved to Hibernian on 1st January but the loan deal with Hibs was cancelled on the winter transfer deadline that allowed the Bhoys to complete the Scotsman’s temporary move. The lack of first-team involvement left him frustrated initially but utilized the opportunity when he was called on for last Sunday’s Old Firm derby clash against Rangers at Ibrox. Celtic registered a stunning win and the custodian became an instant hero by making some crucial stops in the second-half. He is likely to have a run of games now but yet to decide his next career move.
His spell at Dens Park is over already following a denial of a contract extension and the player is now weighing up options amid interests from the likes of Hearts and Hibernian along with English Championship sides Birmingham as well as Bristol City. Rodgers is now keen on keeping the custodian beyond this season but a move to Hearts will hand him a guaranteed first-team football.
Craig Levein, the Jambos boss, is well aware of custodian Jon McLaughlin’s egress on a free transfer next summer and Bain will be a like-for-like replacement between the sticks. His loan move at Hibernian did not work out in January but Neil Lennon, the ex-Celtic boss, is still holding an interest in the keeper and wants him at Easter Road from next season onwards. An interest from the English clubs is always fascinating thus Celtic will have to work hard to tempt the Scotsman committing his future at Celtic Park.
Rodgers is acquiring promising starlets from several top-notch European outfits in order to groom them for a successful career ahead. They are still an esteemed football club lauded for their legacy and are holding the baton of the Scottish football across European countries. They are not blessed to spend as much as the football giants of Europe thus need to strike such Bosman deals more often to enhance the quality for a brighter future.
