Why Celtic must make a move for experienced goalkeeper Robin Olsen
According to Italian Sky Sports journalist Mario Giunta (h/t Glasgow Live), Celtic have made an offer for Roma goalkeeper Robin Olsen.
Olsen, who joined Roma for around £10.8m in July 2018 spent the last season on loan with Cagliari. The 30-year-old was the Serie A side’s first-choice keeper in the initial half of the season, however, he failed to maintain that consistency in the latter half.
He appeared 17 times for Cagliari in the league and kept four clean sheets, giving a fair idea of his potential. Meanwhile, Olsen had earlier arrived at Roma as a replacement for their former keeper Alisson, who had departed to Liverpool.
The Swede made 35 appearances in his maiden season with Roma and managed seven clean sheets in the process before being shipped off on loan to Cagliari.
Olsen was also Sweden’s first-choice keeper when they reached the quarter-finals of the 2018 World Cup, proving that he is not short of experience at the highest level.
However, he has fallen down the pecking order at Roma since the arrival of Pau Lopez last summer. And, Scottish giants Celtic have now shown an interest in landing him.
In Olsen, Celtic will have an experienced keeper in their ranks
Celtic, meanwhile, under Neil Lennon emerged champions of Scotland last season – their ninth league title in a row. Much of their success last season was due to the excellent form of their on-loan goalkeeper Fraser Forster, who returned to his parent club Southampton.
They also lost their back-up man and veteran shot-stopper, Craig Gordon, to rivals Hearts this season, leaving them with just Scott Bain as the lone goalkeeper in the side. With no established shot-stopper in their side, boss Lennon quickly roped in Vasilis Barkas from AEK Athens as his first-choice between the sticks recently.
However, it is his maiden season in Scotland and his lack of experience might go against the Hoops in a season when they are chasing history. Bain, on the other hand, made just eight appearances for Celtic last season, suggesting that he is clearly not one of the favourites at Parkhead.
That said, Celtic’s intention to rope in an experienced customer such as Olsen seems like a safe move. Hence, they should push ahead in their efforts to sign the Swede and land him at Celtic Park as soon as possible.
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Verdict
Celtic lack depth in their goalkeeping department and this will hurt them in the pursuit of a consecutive tenth league title this season. Though Barkas has proven himself at Athens, it is too early to rate him at Celtic. Hence, bringing in someone like Olsen, who has proven it with both club and country seems like the safest bet for Celtic at present.
