With Celtic preparing to face Rangers this weekend, most of the headlines have been dominated with the build-up to the big Glasgow Derby.
However, Brendan Rodgers knows that as well as preparing for a potential league and cup double end to the season, the Celtic boss will also be looking ahead to getting his side ready for next season.
With a number of positions at Celtic requiring strengthening, the number one priority for Rodgers is replacing fan favourite and popular dressing room character, Joe Hart.
Hart is retiring at the end of the season after a glittering three years at Celtic and now Rodgers has the unenviable task of finding a suitable replacement. And it seems he may have identified one.
Scotland ‘keeper being watched by Celtic
Stephen McGowan at the Daily Mail has reported that Celtic have placed Motherwell goalkeeper, Liam Kelly, ‘on a list’ of summer transfer targets.
Kelly moved to The Steelmen back in 2021 from Queens Park Rangers and has made 151 appearances for the SPFL side.
The Motherwell captain was capped by Steve Clarke this season and Kelly made his Scotland debut in the 4-1 defeat to France back in October 2023.
Remarkably, Kelly was part of Mark Warburton’s Rangers squad that progressed through the divisions from 2012 to 2018 but never made a single first-team appearance. [Transfermarkt]
Out of contract as the end of the season, Kelly could be landed on a free. There doesn’t seem to be any rush for the 28-year-old to extend his deal.
Back in October, Kelly said he and Stuart Kettlewell agreed to ‘park’ any transfer talks to focus on Motherwell’s league performance. [Daily Record]
Whilst sitting seven points above the relegation play-off places, Motherwell are technically not safe from the drop but with just seven games to go, avoiding defeat to Ross County this weekend will guarantee top-flight football next season.
Once that happens, Kelly’s future may become clearer and either Motherwell or Celtic will likely make their intentions clear towards the big stopper.