This week, the veteran Denmark international will undergo his medical examinations before signing a contract to become the Scottish Premiership’s top player. Joe Hart retired from professional football at the end of the 2023–24 season, following three seasons in Glasgow, and Kasper Schmeichel is expected to arrive on a free transfer, meaning Celtic will finally have a new number one in goal this summer.
He is not, however, the long-term answer in that role because Schmeichel, who turns 38 later this year, is nearly a year older than the former England international. For this reason, it is possible that the Bhoys are considering adding another shot-stopper to their roster.
Celtic closing in on Premier League prospect
The Scottish Sun reports that the Hoops are getting close to signing Viljami Sinisalo, the custodian for Aston Villa, so they can challenge the Danish giant.
As Schmeichel is nearing the end of his career and the Villans kid appears certain to start, the report states that Brendan Rodgers wants another stopper to join with an eye towards the position’s future.
It claims that the 22-year-old prospect is “poised” to finalise a permanent transfer to Parkhead and that the two teams are in negotiations over a fee.
Sinisalo, who played on loan for Exeter during the 2023–2024 season, now has the opportunity to emulate Matt O’Riley’s successful transfer from League One football to the Premiership.
Why Sinisalo could repeat O’Riley’s success
Before Celtic signed him in the January transfer window, the Danish midfielder had made 26 appearances for MK Dons in the first half of the 2021–2022 season, tallying seven goals and five assists.
During the second part of that season, he made 10 Premiership starts and scored four goals and provided three assists, setting himself up for future success and becoming an important member of the team.
O’Riley made a big move from being a League One player to a star for Celtic last season, as seen by his 18 goals and 13 assists in the league and his current reported £25 million value by the Hoops.
Manager Gary Caldwell predicted Sinisalo would have a “incredible” career this year, and now that he’s shown impressive results while on loan at Exeter in the third division of English football, those predictions could come true.
The Finland international fared better in the Premiership than Hart did for the big Scottish teams, as the table above illustrates.
The 6′ 3″ behemoth was a standout player in League One, as evidenced by his high save percentage, potent penalty stopping success rate, and commanding work in duels.
Because of this, Sinisalo—who is 15 years younger than Schmeichel—could prove to be an incredible long-term addition, rising to the top of the Parkhead hierarchy and making the same kind of breakthrough from League One star to Hoops hero as O’Riley achieved on his way to being valued at £25 million.
