OPINION
Celtic are reportedly in the hunt to sign Newcastle United goalkeeper Karl Darlow in the summer transfer window, and that should be seen as bad news by current Parkhead shot-stopper Craig Gordon.
The Chronicle newspaper has reported on their website that Darlow, 28, could be in the shop window now that the Premier League season is over in a bid to raise some funds at St James’ Park.
It is understood that the former Nottingham Forest goalkeeper could be up for grabs for £3million in the summer, which is a fee that is well within the range of Celtic.
The Hoops’ interest in 6ft 3 (transfermarkt) colossus Darlow might be due to the fact that Dorus De Vries’ contract expires at the end of the season and he is widely expected to leave.
Celtic would then be left with Scott Bain, who has emerged as the Hoops’ number one in 2019, and 36-year-old Gordon.
Peter Lawwell is unlikely to sanction a move for a goalkeeper as good as Darlow if Celtic were going to keep hold of both Bain and Gordon, and considering the fact that the ex-Hearts goalkeeper has now dropped down the pecking order, he is the most likely one to be booted out to make room for Darlow.
If he doesn’t get sold in the summer then Gordon might be make third-choice goalkeeper, and he is simply too good to hold that role when he is still very good for his age and could play for every team in Scotland and most in the English Championship.
Darlow, who reportedly earns £25,000-a-week at Newcastle [Spotrac], is a very good shot-stopper though and the only reason he has not made a league appearance for the Magpies this term is because of how good Martin Dubravka is.
If Celtic can sign Darlow then they will have two very capable goalkeeper options who they can swap between for league and cup competitions to continue their bid for 10 titles in a row, or even a fourth domestic treble on the bounce.