Why Marcus Bettinelli would be a good addition to Celtic
According to Daily Mail, Celtic have expressed their interest in signing Fulham goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli in the upcoming transfer window.
Bettinelli, 28, rose through the ranks of Fulham’s youth system. Initially, he was sent on loan to clubs like Dartford and Accrington Stanley to develop himself with regular game time. However, since his return in the summer of 2014 to his parent club, he has established himself as a key member of the squad.
He was also instrumental in helping his side getting promoted to the top-flight at the end of the 2017/18 season but the Cottagers were eventually relegated. But the shot-stopper’s performances earned him a call-up to the national squad, though he hasn’t made his international debut yet.
He has been in good form in the past two seasons despite struggling with an ankle injury in recent times. And with just one year left on his contract, Celtic should make a move for the London-born goalkeeper.
Bettinelli could solve Celtic’s goalkeeping issues
At the moment, Celtic have only one shot-stopper in their ranks in Scott Bain, who has been used rarely in the campaign. Their main goalkeeper this term, Fraser Forster has returned to Southampton after his loan spell came to an end last month.
He played a key role in the Hoops’ title-winning campaign as he managed to keep 14 clean sheets in 28 league games, conceding just 17 goals.
The report suggests that Celtic boss Neil Lennon tried to sign him permanently but the 32-year-old has left the club to fight for his place at Southampton. And his departure has left a huge void in Celtic’s goalkeeping department, leaving only Bain at the manager’s disposal. Thus, the manager should bring in a goalkeeper in the summer.
In that regard, Bettinelli would be a viable option for the club. Though the 28-year-old had not featured regularly for quite some time, he had kept 4 clean sheets in 14 games this season, conceding just 14 goals.
He may not be the best at the moment, but his inclusion could be a massive boost for the Hoops, who are left with just one shot-stopper in their ranks. Bettinelli could add depth to the squad, whilst also bringing in healthy competition to Bain, which could, in turn, be good for the club.
Read more
- Why Celtic must rekindle their interest in Josh Murphy
- Why Celtic should revive their interest in David Turnbull
Verdict
At 28, the Englishman has a few more years left to perform at a high level and given Celtic’s lack of numbers, he could be a crucial addition to the squad. This could also be helpful for the club and the player who has a chance to improve after falling behind Marek Radek at Craven Cottage. Hence, the Scottish giants should bring Bettinelli to Celtic Park this summer.
